A BURGLAR who walked up to a Bradford house with a garden spade and smashed a window to break in has been jailed for 37 months. 

Drug addict Michael Coultous was caught on CCTV approaching the address in Parkside Road, West Bowling, in broad daylight and leaving minutes later with a TV. 

He pleaded guilty to the burglary today and was locked up by Judge Jonathan Rose who said he had a very lengthy record of serious criminal offences. 

Coultous, 55, of Lime Tree Square, Shipley, was seen on the security cameras on a neighbouring property on the afternoon of June 28, prosecutor David Ward told Bradford Crown Court. 

He broke a rear kitchen window to get in, made an untidy search upstairs and stole the £500 television set which was sold on and never recovered. 

He was tracked down and arrested after the spade he left behind was found to have his DNA on it.  

Coultous, who was remanded in HMP Leeds, made no comment when questioned by the police. 

The court heard he was more than a ‘third striker’ with a lengthy criminal record for offences of dishonesty. 

David McGonigal said in mitigation that Coultous looked significantly older than 55 because he had a history of drug addiction.  

“One can see the effects of that on him today,” Mr McGonigal told the court. 

Coultous had managed to stay out of trouble following his release from prison in about March, 2020. He was on licence and free from drugs but he relapsed and needed money to fund his addiction.  

He didn’t want to commit crimes but ‘he is not entirely his own master,’ Mr McGonigal said. 

He wanted an implant that was now available to stop him taking drugs in the future. 

The house was unoccupied at the time but Coultous took an implement with him to gain entry and the address was searched, it was conceded. 

Judge Rose said it was evident that Coultous had been ravaged over a period of time by his addiction to Class A drugs.  

He had a very lengthy record of serious criminal offences for dishonesty and dwelling house burglaries. 

He had been given opportunities in the past, including a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement that had failed. 

Judge Rose said that Coultous would continue to offend while he was addicted to drugs. Locking him up would protect the public from him for a time.