Exclusive:Sheffield youth used bank cards stolen in burglary for late-night spending spree at petrol stations
Burglary victims are considering moving home following the raid
A Sheffield youth used bank cards he had stolen during a burglary for a late-night spending spree that same day at petrol stations and shops, a court heard.
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Danny Cox, aged 18, spent over £30 at a Parson Cross forecourt and then nearly £90 at another nearby in Longley - however the victim’s bank finally declined a random payment of £3.10 at a shop in Firth Park.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how on January 7 this year Cox’s victims - a family living on Halifax Road - were awoken by their dog barking around 3am during the break-in.
The family were left “unsettled” and “anxious” by the burglary, the court heard, and were now considering “moving away” from the area.
Aimilia Katsoulakis, prosecuting, said: “(One of the complainants) went downstairs and noticed the cupboard beneath the stairs was open.
“Numerous cupboards and draws had been opened and the rear door of the property was open.”
Among missing items were a laptop, house and vehicle keys and bank cards, the court heard.
Ms Katsoulakis added: “Following the theft of the bank cards the complainant checked his online banking and a number of unauthorised transactions had been made.”
Cox, who was just 17 at the time, and another suspect, were later spotted on CCTV at the Longley petrol station arriving in a taxi while footage from a home on Chaucer Road showed the defendant and his accomplice running.
Police finally caught up with Cox for the burglary three weeks later when he was pulled over in a black VW Golf while sat in the passenger seat amid a “strong” smell of cannabis and owned up to having “a joint”.
Cox only had two convictions - for burglary and going equipped for burglary - at the time of the January 6 spree however he was still serving a community order on the night of the latest offences.
Recorder Ian Mullarkey told Cox: “When you spoke about this you said the victims of your offence would have been sad. That is plainly an understatement.
“You must appreciate that offending of this kind committed by groups of young people going out at night to burgle people’s property while they’re at home causes lasting psychological damage.”
However, noting probation reports pointing to Cox’s “immaturity”, his “adverse” childhood and that he had already been in youth detention since January 29, the judge suspended a 20-month jail term for 18 months.
Cox, of Herries Road, was handed 250 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity days. He admitted burglary, fraud and cannabis possession.