Leeds thief jailed after burgling five Hyde Park houses in one day

Gareth Vaughan was found hiding under a bed at the fifth house


A Leeds burglar who broke into five student houses in one day has been jailed.

Gareth Vaughan, who was caught after repeated calls of break-ins in Hyde Park,  has been given four years in prison.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Vaughan was found hiding under a bed by police at the scene of the fifth house he broke in to.

The offences, during which Vaughan stole items including a laptop, TV and a mobile phone, took place on 20th December last year.

He pleaded guilty to five offences of burglary and asked for one offence of handling stolen goods to be taken into account.

Vaughan claimed he committed the offences to fund a long-term drug habit.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, told Vaughan upon sentencing: “You are 35 and you are a career burglar.

“The record of the offending combined with an inability or unwillingness to rehabilitate yourself or respond to sentences means that a sentencing judge has to depart radically from the sentencing guidelines.”