Two Huddersfield men jailed for burglary offences

Nov 4 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TWO prolific burglars are behind bars after attacking homes in Huddersfield.

Durrell Simmonds, of Fartown, and Michael McDonnell, of Newsome, were both handed hefty sentences by a judge.

Police have hailed the sentences and welcomed the fact that the criminals have been taken off the streets of the town.

Simmonds, described by police as a ‘prolific’ offender, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to four years in prison following a string of burglaries – including one against an 84-year-old victim.

The 20-year-old burglar, of Aquamarine Drive, was charged with three offences which occurred at Long Lane in Huddersfield on August 14 and two the following day at Foxlow Avenue in Rawthorpe and Stile Common Road in Newsome.

He stole electrical items, purses and handbags during all three raids.

During the Long Lane robbery, he was confronted by the home owner and made off.

But the next day he committed two further burglaries. Police arrested him later the same day and discovered some of the stolen goods on him.

Det Insp Richard Holmes said: “Simmonds can only be described as prolific in the way in which he targeted addresses where doors and windows had been left insecure.