Tag-wearing criminal traced to burglary scene by GPS, court is told

A known burglar was caught stealing a motorbike from a domestic garage after his electronic tag traced him to the address.
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David Mark Jones, 29, was not only spotted on CCTV breaking into the garage on Church Avenue in Kirkthorpe, but tracked by the GPS on his ankle bracelet he had fitted for a previous offence.

It showed him mainly at walking speed around the area of the crime , but then at 22mph - consistent with riding the bike.

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Leeds Crown Court was told how Jones had been "clearly part of a gang" after two men later turned up and loaded the bike into the back of a van half a mile from the scene.

David Jones was jailed for 28 months.David Jones was jailed for 28 months.
David Jones was jailed for 28 months.

Prosecuting, Elizabeth Noble said that the homeowner had spotted her garage door open at 7.40am on September 28 this year.

She then noticed her son's motocross bike was missing, there were marks on the garage door where it had been prised open, and a crowbar was found.

The CCTV from a neighbour showed Jones kneeling by the garage door, before leaving and returning a short time later to take the bike.

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It was left outside a property on Half Moon Lane at around 8.30am. The two males later arrived and told the occupier of the property that the bike had broken down and were there to collect it.

After being arrested, Jones, of Fryston Road, Castleford, denied taking the bike and said his DNA would not be found on it.

But he was then showed the CCTV and the GPS movements from his tag.

He admitted a charge of burglary.

The court was told he had 38 convictions for 81 offences stretching across 17 years, including multiple non-dwelling burglaries and thefts of vehicles.

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Mitigating, Giles Grant said Jones had suffered from ADHD all of his life, did not attend school as a youngster and as a result, struggled to gain work.

Judge Robin Mairs jailed him for 28 months, and said: "Some planning had gone into this offence, with the motorbike being left nearby and two males coming to collect it.

"It was clearly a gang offence, with some element of planning and an element of sophistication."