Young Leeds thief boasted about stealing cars in gang blowtorch burglaries
A thief who was part of a gang that organised burglary sprees incriminated himself by sending messages boasting of his exploits.
Stephen Stratton was thought to be involved in up to eight dwelling burglaries in Leeds in which he and accomplices used a blowtorch to burn their way into homes.
The 23-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after he admitted a charge of conspiracy to burgle.
He and others were arrested in a car in the early hours of February 15 last year. They had balaclavas, gloves and a blowtorch with them.
But Stratton’s phone was analysed and was found to contain messages between the gang members, organising dates in which they would go out burgling.
He also said he had stolen an Audi Q2 and a Kia Sportage from one property.
This was traced to a burglary in the Adel area on February 5.
Other homes hit included Norfolk Terrace in Chapel Allerton, Hillcrest Rise in Cookridge, Rose Avenue and Springfield Close in Horsforth.
All targeted between January and February last year, they were able to enter by using the blowtorch to burn the lock barrel away from the door.
Having been arrested, Stratton gave a no-comment interview to police.
He has five previous convictions, all for motoring offences.
Mitigating, Matthew Harding pointed to his young age, his guilty plea and that he had been on an electronic curfew tag.
He suggested a “truly exceptional course” could be taken by the courts to keep Stratton out of prison, but Judge Simon Batiste disagreed.
Judge Batiste told Stratton: “This was planned and sophisticated criminality.
“Properties were specifically targeted because of the vehicles on the driveway. You had disguises and blowtorches were used.”
Stratton, of Thorn Mount, Gipton, was jailed for five years and eight months.