South Yorkshire burglar jailed after he was part of night-time gang raid at a family's home

A jailed burglar was part of a gang which stole £40,000 of vehicles and goods from a rural home while the occupants were in bed.
By Jon Cooper
Published 10th Aug 2020, 15:00 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 4 how James Wake, aged 20, of Kirkstead Road, Rotherham, had been part of the gang raid at the home on Kirkedge Road, Castle Bents, High Bradfield, Sheffield.

Louise Gallagher, prosecuting, said the owner was woken by the family dog barking and he saw his son’s vehicle being driven off the driveway and saw another of their vehicles being driven away as both were followed by an unknown car.

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Ms Gallagher added garages at the property had been opened, a CCTV hard-drive system had been stolen and keys to two other vehicles had been taken but these two vehicles had not been stolen and the keys were left behind.

A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after he was involved in a raid at a family home where an estimated £40,000 of property was stolen.A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after he was involved in a raid at a family home where an estimated £40,000 of property was stolen.
A burglar has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after he was involved in a raid at a family home where an estimated £40,000 of property was stolen.

A safe was also stolen with £2,000 of cash, according to Ms Gallagher, and the total value of stolen property was estimated at £40,000.

Wake pleaded guilty to the burglary from May 25 and he admitted attempting to steal a boiler and piping from an unoccupied property on Barberwood Road, Rotherham, from December, 2019.

Joy Merriam, defending, said Wake had driven one of the vehicles during the raid at Castle Bents and she claimed he had been acting under instructions and feels terrible about being associated with the burglary.

Judge Graham Reeds QC sentenced Wake, who was also dealt with for driving without a licence and insurance, to 18-months of custody.

He was also banned from driving for six-months.