Burglar broke into pal's Wakefield home then boasted about theft, court heard
He took a bicycle, cash and bank card
A man burgled a friend’s home hours after he was ordered to leave during an argument.
Simon Holt later boasted about his exploits before he was arrested, Leeds Crown Court was told.
He admitted a charge of dwelling burglary and fraud by false representation after he used the victim’s stolen bank card.
Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert said 44-year-old Holt had been drinking at the victim’s home in Pontefract on September 9, 2023.
But following a disagreement he was ordered to leave. The complainant then went to bed, but the next morning woke up to find the patio door open.
A bicycle, bank card and cash was missing.
It was thought Holt had gained entry through a ground-floor window and left through the patio door.
He later used the bank card to buy £48 worth of alcohol from Tesco.
When he was arrested, Holt gave a no-comment interview. He appeared in court this week over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was held on remand.
Holt, of Priory Road, Featherstone, has eight previous convictions for 13 offences.
A probation report suggested Holt was told he could take the bike despite the argument. He works as a scaffolder but often smoked heroin and crack cocaine.
Mitigating, Sarah Myatt said Holt had been held for a month and had two negative drug tests in that time. She said he had “taken stock” during his time on remand.
She added: “He knows he can’t continue. He needs to move on from that lifestyle.”
Judge Neil Clark gave him a 12-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days.