TWO burglars who attacked a house with mole grips after arriving in a van displaying false number plates have received lengthy jail sentences.

Christopher Johnston, 27, and Nathan Simpson, 34, were handcuffed to prison officers in the dock at Bradford Crown Court for yesterday’s hearing.

Johnston, of Otley Road, Bradford, was imprisoned for a total of four years for burglary, attempted burglary, three assaults and criminal damage.

Simpson, of no fixed address, was locked up for 37 months for burglary and attempted burglary. The “three strikes” burglar was described by the judge, Recorder Thomas Moran, as a “die-hard criminal.”

Johnston pleaded guilty to burgling a laptop computer and £13,000 worth of jewellery from a house in Northowram on October 20 last year.

Mole grips - a type of pliers that can be locked in place for a tighter hold - were used to gain entry to the property and an interior door was forced. A jewellery box was stolen from a bedroom where a screwdriver was found with Johnston’s DNA on it.

He and Simpson admitted attempting to break into a home in Buttershaw Lane, Bradford, on February 16.

They were caught on CCTV trying to force a side door and a window, causing £400 damage.

Simpson pleaded guilty to burgling a property in The Avenue, Hipperholme, on February 15. A window was broken and cash, a television set, a computer tablet and a phone stolen.

The court heard that the householder put stills from CCTV footage of the attempted break-in on Facebook, leading to Simpson’s arrest.

Mr Green said that Simpson, who had a string of previous convictions for housebreaking, was “effectively a career burglar.”

Johnston was also sentenced for causing his former girlfriend actual bodily harm on July 1 last year, assaulting two police officers and criminal damage.

He had been drinking and taking cocaine when he kicked the woman in the head and face, smashed the kitchen window at her home and kicked the two police officers that attended the scene. He pleaded guilty to the offences at the magistrates court.

Johnston’s barrister, Howard Shaw, said he was “truly sorry” for assaulting the woman and the police officers. He acted irrationally while intoxicated with drugs and alcohol.

There was no vandalism or ransacking at the burgled house and the occupier had claimed back the value of her jewellery on her insurance.

Johnston had “gone off the rails” after the tragic loss of his mother. He was a troubled young man who had been fighting his own personal demons.

Nigel Jamieson, barrister for Simpson, said he had battled issues involving drugs and lack of accommodation. His partner was standing by him and had offered him a home when he was released from prison.

Johnston was jailed for 34 months for the burglary offences with 14 months to run consecutively for the assault charges.