A drug addict who took part in a burglary at a church and then used some of the proceeds to buy heroin was jailed for 18 months.

Najabat Hussain, 21, of Steadman Street, Bradford, admitted acting as a look-out while his accomplice broke into St Augustine's Church in the Wapping area of the city last June.

Prosecutor Martin Robertshaw described how a side door had been forced open during the early morning attack on the church and other doors, including one to a prayer room, had also been forced.

In total, more than £1,400 worth of property, including cash from a church box and items of church equipment, was stolen.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Hussain and his accomplice fled the scene after they were challenged by the vicar, who lived nearby. Two days later police searched a house where Hussain was living at the time and recovered three oil stops belonging to the church as well as heroin with an estimated street value of more than £500.

Hussain pleaded guilty to burglary and possessing the heroin for his own use.

Mr Robertshaw revealed that the 21-year-old had previous convictions for burglary and was the subject of a probation order at the time of the church break-in.

Hussain's barrister, Kirsty Watson, said he was using quite a lot of heroin at the time but had since made efforts to reduce his use of the drug substantially. She conceded the money they managed to obtain as a result of the burglary had been used to buy the heroin, which was later seized at the house

Judge Rodney Grant told Hussain that the burglary at the church had been a serious offence and that the role of look-out was a vital one in such crimes.

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