A homeless man with a history of theft gets 28 months for multiple burglaries in York and Bradford.
Cooper stole jewelry in two raids, which occurred within hours of each other. The stolen items were never recovered. An antique shop owner in York received an alarm notification at night, discovering a broken cabinet and smashed glass.
The shop owner couldn’t determine the precise value of the stolen items. Access was gained through a hatch and an unlocked door. Police secured the hatch upon their arrival.
Six hours later, another alarm sounded. The owner discovered another broken cabinet. Police found Cooper’s DNA from blood at the scene. The stolen jewelry was valued at over £29,000.
Cooper later broke into a locked office at Bradford College using a screwdriver. He stole a laptop, phone, speaker, jacket, and hoodie, with a total value of £660.
Cooper was apprehended inside the building with the stolen items in his backpack. He was also carrying the screwdriver. Furthermore, he was wearing the stolen jacket and hoodie.
Cooper denied the burglary charges, claiming he was homeless and addicted to cocaine at the time. The shop owner invested £25,000 to upgrade security. Customers lost trust in the business following Cooper’s crimes.
The owner suffered a nervous breakdown as a result, and people withdrew stock from his business. Cooper had a significant history of theft and no fixed address in Bradford.
His lawyer argued that drugs fueled Cooper’s crimes and that he possessed no skills other than identifying burglary targets. He added that Cooper had little to show for his 50 years of life.
The judge noted that Cooper lived a chaotic life and characterized his burglary record as shocking. Cooper broke into the same shop twice, even after police had already responded to the scene.
The judge emphasized Cooper’s persistence and noted that the missing jewelry indicated careful planning. He sentenced Cooper to 28 months in jail, stating that incarceration was necessary for these serious crimes.