Burglar targeted his mum and friends

A “mean” burglar targeted his mum’s home and properties where two of his friends lived, a court heard.
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Andrew Standring used a pair of ladders to climb in through a bedroom window while his relatives were on holiday and stole a mobile phone and lap top belonging to his sister.

Leeds Crown Court heard Standring, 25, targeted the house on Wasdale Road, Flanshaw, Wakefield, in the early hours of September 14 last year.

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A week later Standring abused the trust placed in him by a friend who allowed him to stay at his home on Blakeley Grove, Flanshaw.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, said Standring stole a key to the property before using it to steal two rings and a pair of boots.

Standring then used Facebook to get in touch with an old friend before visiting her. Miss Hancock said the 41 year-old victim was bed-ridden due to an illness.

He stole £20 from her then closed down his Facebook account so the woman could not contact him. Standring, of Gannet Close, Castleford, pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary and two of theft.

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Kate Bisset, mitigating, said Standring had worked hard as a roofer after leaving school and had not committed any offences until he was made redundant and began drinking heavily.

Miss Bisset described Standring’s crime spree as ‘mean offences’ but said they were out of character and committed at a time when he was desperate.

She added: “This is not a man committing crime for a lavish lifestyle. This was a man wrongly choosing to commit crimes simply to survive.”

Standring was given a 13-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and told to take part in a medium level activity requirement.