By Eric King-
A notorious addict, who carried out a string of burglaries in Bradford even stealing from his own mother, has been jailed for more than three years.
Judge Collin Burn sentenced Gibson to three years and eight months, saying: “You would have just carried on if you hadn’t been arrested for this recent spate of burglaries.”
Steven Gibson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.
Gibson broke into homes in Eccleshill, Tong, and Gilstead, as well as a working men’s club, in a spate of burglaries that lasted four months four months. He committed his crimes between September and December 2017, stealing jewellery, watches, cash and perfume.
The court head how Gibson had an extensive record dating back to 1998 and that he had been jailed for seven years in 2011 so was out on licence at the time of his latest crime
The prolific burglar used his sister’s spare key to enter his mother’s house on Moorside Road in Eccleshill on September 12 last year. The court heard how he entered the house while his mother was out walking her dog, and had hid under the bed when she returned.
In an attempt to justify his entry into his mother’s house, he lied that he had run out of toilet paper at his sister’s house next door, prosecutors told the court. Later his mother discovered two gold and sapphire rings were missing, including her aunt’s engagement ring.
A second offence involved a woman and her nine-year-old daughter who returned to their home in Primrose Lane, Tong, shortly after 6pm on December 1, interrupting Gibson who was breaking in.
“She noticed there was a blue holdall by the front door and there was a hole in the door and a shovel nearby,” said Miss Kaye.
Gibson brazenly snatched his holdall and ran off. “The daughter screamed in terror as he ran past her, saying he was sorry,” she added.
As well as two more house burglaries and an attempted burglary, Gibson also stole cash from Eccleshill Working Men’s Club on November 10.