A MAN has been jailed for two years and four months after burgling more than £3,000 of property from a Bradford house while the victim was on holiday.

David Wright was caught on CCTV leaving the address in the Wyke area carrying a £400 television set, Bradford Crown Court heard.

His haul also included two £300 PlayStations, £1,000 worth of games, two laptop computers and a gold pendant of great sentimental value.

Prosecutor Syam Soni told the court that Wright and an accomplice targeted the three-bedroom house at around 7am on August 12, 2019.

Locks were smashed and doors and windows damaged in the break-in, leaving the householder with a £300 repair bill.

In all, items worth £3,320 were stolen by Wright, 37, of Laverack Field, Wyke.

He was recognised by a neighbour and he left a screwdriver at the scene with his DNA on it, Mr Soni said.

Wright pleaded guilty to the burglary and to possession of a wrap of cocaine, damaging a police cell and breach of restraining order.

The court heard he was arrested on April 17 this year for breaching the order by attending at an address in the city. He had the cocaine on him and he damaged his cell by blocking the toilet with a pillow.

Wright had 21 previous convictions for 48 offences, including matters of violence, shop thefts, motoring offences and harassment. It was his fourth breach of the restraining order but he had no convictions for burglary.

Wright read out a letter to Judge Neil Davey QC in which he begged for a chance. He had been addicted to drugs for nine years but was free from them after being remanded in Leeds Prison. He said he had already taken great steps towards a crime-free life.

“I need to stress how serious I am about changing my criminal ways,” he said.

Wright’s barrister Abdul Shakoor said he had suffered tragedies in his earlier life that had led to serious mental health problems.

The burglary was almost two years old and he had since served a jail sentence after being convicted of dangerous driving. Judge Davey said he was impressed by Wright’s letter but an immediate prison sentence was the only option for a Category One house burglary.

He was jailed for two years for the burglary with four months to run consecutively for breaching the restraining order.

Judge Davey said Wright went to the house with a screwdriver to break in, did a substantial amount of damage and made off with high value goods and jewellery of sentimental value.