South Yorkshire teen who ransacked a home given chance to “grow up”

Dylan Cole met two friends on Millgate, Barnsley, one of whom was "off his head on drugs" and told him: "They've not been home for a while, we're going to graft it."

A brick was used to smash the kitchen window of a two-bedroom terraced house, and £4,000-£5,000 of electrical and musical goods were taken, sometime between December 16, 2019, and January 6, this year, said prosecutor Louise Gallagher.

The owner of the house said the burglary "left him afraid to attend his home address and he was staying elsewhere," and he is now in the process of selling it.

Cole was arrested after his fingerprint was found on a television box.

“He told police he didn’t want to take part but felt compelled,” said Ms Gallagher. “The crown doesn’t accept this.”

Sheffield Crown Court heard how the stolen goods, which included a large television set and hi-fi equipment, were stored in a shed until “a man with a van” arrived and bought some of them.

Susan Fisher, mitigating, said another member of the group was responsible for further damage to the house after the initial burglary.

"He was full and frank and honest at his police interview," she said.

“He has a job to go to after the epidemic, working for his brother, and has decreased his cannabis habit,” Ms Fisher added.

She urged the judge to suspend a custodial sentence to give the probation service a chance to work with him.

Cole, 19, of Parker Street, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to burglary on February 5.

Recorder Richard Wright QC told him: "Together, you and your co-adventurers ransacked the property and a high value of goods were removed."

He described it as a "targeted group offence" which justified custody.

But he added: "I am giving you an opportunity to demonstrate you're capable of growing up and putting this kind of behaviour behind you and getting on with your life."

Cole received 16 months' detention, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days.

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