A burglar who carried out a series of house break-ins in the Spen Valley has been put back behind bars for five years.

Gary Ellis, of no fixed address, began what a judge described as a "campaign of burglary" within a few months of being released from a previous jail sentence for robbery and burglary.

Sentencing Ellis at Bradford Crown Court yesterday, Judge Scott Wolstenholme said: "The residents of the Spen Valley really deserve a rest from you.''

Drug addict Ellis was sent to prison for a series of offences including two house burglaries and an aggravated burglary.

He also asked for a further 20 burglaries to be taken into consideration.

Prosecutor Phillip Standfast described how Ellis was disturbed by Stephen Jowett and his wife as he was carrying out a burglary at their home in Lower Lane, Gomersal.

Mr Jowett climbed through a window in pursuit of Ellis and there was a confrontation between the two men.

Although it was denied by Ellis, the prosecution alleged that at one stage he threatened to stab Mr Jowett and lunged at him with may have been a chisel.

Mr Standfast described how Mr Jowett managed to lock Ellis in a room, but then heard the sound of breaking glass and realised he was smashing a window to get out.

As Ellis tried to run away down the road Mr Jowett grabbed hold of him and during a struggle to restrain him two chisels and a screwdriver fell from Ellis's clothing.

When police arrived on the scene they arrested Ellis who admitted he having recently taken crack cocaine.

Ellis admitted carrying out the burglary to get money for heroin.

It was while he was on bail for those matters that he committed further offences including the aggravated burglary.

He was found guilty of that offence after a trial.

Barrister Richard Clews, for Ellis, said he was a man who was easily influenced and was not as nasty as the offence might make him appear.