A BURGLAR whose night-time raiding forced a 82-year-old woman to abandon the home where she had lived for nearly 40 years has been jailed.

Benjamin Ireland, 35, prowled the streets of York in the early hours looking for homes to burgle, said Paul Abrahams, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

On September 7, the 82-year-old woman woke about 5am to see Ireland standing in her bedroom searching through her belongings with a torch in his hands.

She called out and he left with her handbag, jewellery and other items.

She told police she was so affected by the incident that she felt that she was "starting to crumble" and had brought forward her decision to move out of the house, where she had lived alone since 1976, into sheltered accommodation.

Mr Abrahams told York Crown Court the burglary was one of several committed by Ireland between August 18 and his arrest on September 7.

Recorder Eric Elliott QC told Ireland: "I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of forcing that lady into that situation."

Ireland had "deliberately targeted" houses with insecure doors and windows.

He jailed Ireland, of Bell Farm Avenue, off Huntington Road, York, for two and a half years.

Ireland pleaded guilty to six burglaries and asked for three more to be taken into consideration.

Mr Abrahams said Ireland had taken purses, cash, bank cards and other items from houses and homes in Kirkstone Drive, North Moors Estate, Waterside Gardens, Milton Carr and Ings View, among others.

Some of the streets targeted by Ireland

 

When arrested he had a driving licence stolen in the raids on him which he claimed falsely belonged to his girlfriend.

He had a lengthy record, but no previous convictions for burglary.

Mark Thompson, defending, said Ireland was remorseful and wanted to apologise to his victims. He had been out of trouble for five years while working as a window cleaner but after he lost that job in July he had financial problems caused by a number of reasons, including debts to cannabis dealers and loans.

"Unfortunately, he has turned to these offences to try and get himself out of the financial situation," said Mr Thompson.

He was making his best of his time in prison, having been remanded in custody since September 8.