A JUDGE has castigated a father for encouraging his son to join him in smashing their way into a Bradford house and stealing jewellery, alcohol, and food.

Speaking at Bradford Crown Court Judge Ahmed Nadim said 48-year-old Paul Wray had conducted himself in “a shameful manner” when he encouraged his son George, 25, to take part in a burglary last summer.

Wray had recently been released from prison when he and his son broke into a semi-detached house in Eaglesfield Drive, Woodside, on August 18.

Prosecutor Jemima Stephenson told the court that the duo smashed a rear living room window to get in and then made their way through the house stealing silver earrings, a watch, bottles of wine and spirits, and food from the freezer.

They then broke into a shed and stole a shopping trolley, three tubs of white paint, and an air fryer.

The value of the goods was £549.

Both men were caught on CCTV, identified by police, and arrested days later. After initially denying involvement, they pleaded guilty.

Miss Stephenson said the owner had left their home locked and secured at around 8.30am but had returned at 2.45pm to find the window smashed and doors and drawers left open in what she described as “quite extensive intrusion”.

Rodney Ferm, defending both men, said: “This was a burglary. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Some drawers were opened for the purpose of looking into them but there was no wanton damage, no vandalism, nothing more than was inevitable in the context of the forced entry to the house.”

He added: “Paul Wray accepts that if he had not been with his son that day this burglary would not have happened.”

He urged leniency for George Wray, who had been in prison since the incident and who was described as “one of the most disadvantaged people in our society”.

The court heard that both father and son had issues with drink and drugs.

George Wray, who has been in HMP Leeds for five months, appeared in court dressed in a grey tracksuit.

Paul Wray, who appeared by video link from Doncaster Prison, said he regretted “every single one” of his many convictions during a series of interruptions. He told Judge Ahmed Nadim: “We’re not burglars.”

In sentencing Paul Wray to 16 months imprisonment Judge Nadim said: “You have on your record a horrendous number of offences. Your lifestyle has involved a cycle of courts and offending.”

He delayed releasing George Wray so that temporary accommodation might be found to support him as he sought to move away from a life of crime.

The judge said: “I have taken a chance. Wray Junior needs help.”

He will be sentenced on February 13.