Eagle-eyed boy helps snare thief

Aiden Parkinson, of Abbey Road, Batley, was sentenced to two years and 10 months after pleading guilty to offences in Dewsbury, Baltey and Ossett.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 23-year-old was involved in five offences on March 9 this year.

Simon Haring, prosecuting, said Parkinson was seen driving with two men in his Vauxhall Corsa along Grasmere Road, Hanging Heaton, around 6.50pm.

A schoolboy witnessed him and one of the men attempting to break into a house by pulling at the bottom of the door.

The youngster took down the registration details of the vehicle and told his mother who phoned the police.

In the meantime Parkinson was involved in another burglary at a home nearby in Ullswater Road. Three properties had also been targeted in Ossett earlier that evening.

Police later found 10 cannabis plants growing at his home. He pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary, four of attempted burglary, producing cannabis and driving while qualified.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: “This was verging on professional attempts to commit burglary.”