Heartless Leeds burglar broke into a church and care homes during sickening two-week spree
Prolific homeless criminal said he would rather be in prison
A serial burglar targeted care homes, sheltered accommodation and even a church during a summer thieving spree.
Heartless James Richmond took TVs, money and other items after forcing his way into the properties in the dead of night.
The 46-year-old, who has a long list of previous convictions for similar offending and targeting the elderly or infirm, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The court was told that Richmond smashed his way into St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Pudsey overnight on July 26.
He forced his way into the office and helped himself to money boxes, one of which contained around £200.
He also stole cleaning products. Richmond left blood on the wall from which the police were able to identify him through the DNA database.
But in the space of two weeks in July he also broke into buildings at Whingate Court Sheltered Housing in Armley, Montague Court housing for the elderly in Armley, Beech Hall Care Home in Armley, Rossefield Manor retirement apartments in Bramley, St Peter’s Court Sheltered Housing in Bramley, Hawthorn Mill independent living flats in Lower Wortley and Acacia Court Care Home in Pudsey.
Among the items he took were a safe, TVs and alcohol.
He used crowbars, screwdrivers and even bricks to simply smash his way in, and was caught on CCTV several times.
Homeless Richmond admitted 12 counts of burglary, eight of non-dwelling areas after he broke into communal areas, one of attempted burglary and three of dwelling burglaries.
One one occasion, a shocked 87-year-old resident heard a noise and walked into his hallway to be confronted by Richmond, who then fled.
When he was arrested, he told police he wanted to go back to prison.
Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland said Richmond has a staggering 95 offences on his record, with more than 46 related to thefts and break-ins.
Mitigating, Tom Doyle said father-of-six Richmond, who appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, preferred to be in prison becaused had nowhere to live.
He said: “Life inside prison has been kinder to him than life outside. He has nowhere to go but the streets. He takes drugs, commits further offences and goes back to jail and the cycle begins again.”
He added: “These are horrible offences committed in the throes of drug addiction.
“He wishes to apologise to all of his victims. He hate the fact he commits offences like this.”
Judge Neil Clark jailed him for five years and four months.