By James Simons-
A career criminal was spared jail because he had a new a partner, despite using air conditioning pipes to burgle a hotel.
Mark Oxley, 48, of Ebor Place, Leeds, was handed a suspended sentence for the burglary of the Holiday Inn, in Bradford and traveling in a stolen vehicle on May 25 this year, after he used inside information to identify the finance office.
Bradford Crown Court heard Oxley has 20 previous convictions for more than 50 offences and was described as a “career criminal” by Mr Kenneth Green, for the prosecution.
Mr Recorder Simon Myerson QC has given him a chance as a new “significant factor” – his new partner who he cares for – was new in his life. The criminal history of the new partner was not examined in the judgement of the court in determining the efefct of her inclusion in his life.
The sentence given to him was 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, with nine months of drug rehabilitation and 27 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days to complete.
At 3.15am on May 25, an Audi stolen two days before from a house, was spotted on CCTV arriving in the rear car park of the Holiday Inn, by a night security officer, for what the prosecution said was a targeted burglary.
The security officer witnessed two males – wearing balaclavas and gloves – leave the vehicle and use the air conditioning pipes to climb to the roof of the building, the court heard.
Mr Green said: “The two males eventually got access to the finance office of the hotel which suggests they were provided inside information.”
Police arrived and the burglars used the fire exit to escape but Oxley was caught.
Money from a safe in the finance room had been taken – amounting to £7,100.
Police searched a bushy area in the car park where Oxley was caught and found a plastic bag containing the stolen cash.
Tom Jackson, Oxley’s defence lawyer, said he was surrounded by crime in Armley and involved in bad crowds but met his new partner in August last year and moved to Morley for a fresh start.
Jackson argued that problems with his benefits had affected money and this caused him mental health issues, but forgot to explain what role his benefit issues had on the other 20 convictions- which was none.
Oxley was lucky indeed to escape jail, and would appear to have deserved a jail sentence.