A man with a grievance against a former employer burgled three of the tailor’s premises in Huddersfield among other commercial businesses, a court heard.

And Stephen Dale Ryan was said to have one of the “worst-ever records” for burglary.

He often used the same “modus operandi” by climbing on to the roof of his targets and then removing tiles to get inside.

Christopher Dunn prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court Ryan was already under a community order for offences including a break in at a Barclays bank branch when over the weekend of March 8 to 10 he removed numerous roof tiles at Dukinfield Butchers in New Hey Road and lowered himself into the loft area.

He then removed wooden slats to gain entry below, stealing £160 and damaging the cash till in the process. The total damage to the premises was estimated at £800.

On March 15 having fallen out with his former employer who had accused him of stealing he broke into Town Tailors in Westgate by removing roof tiles and climbing inside causing £300 damage. He stole cash and a computer worth in total £360.

The same night he caused £500 damage when he made a large hole in the wall to an adjoining shop in Westgate, The Sweet Corner, where knowing there was CCTV he disguised himself by making a balaclava from a hat taken in the tailors.

Also on that date he struck at another tailors owned by the same complainant in Westbourne Road, Marsh causing £400 damage in the process and stealing an unknown about of money.

Three days later Ryan broke into the Craft Workshop in Acre Street, Marsh stealing £60 in cash from a filing cabinet and a laptop computer after again getting in through the roof.

He was on police bail following his arrest when he struck for the third time at another address of his former employer this time in Wakefield Road, Moldgreen. It was believed he used keys from his year-long employment to get inside intending to steal.

Mr Dunn said Ryan was then on court bail when a burglary was committed at the Don’t Forget card shop in Westbourne Road, Police had received reports of people on the roof in the early morning and while some officers searched nearby others waited outside Ryan’s address.

Carl Kingsley representing him told the court Ryan was realistic about his sentence having reverted to his old ways.

He was an experienced tailor and at the time felt aggrieved that his former employer had told the social security he had left his employment rather than been sacked which meant he did not qualify for benefits.

He was now undergoing tests because of health problems which had seen significant weight loss and in addition had been the victim of an assault while on remand in prison leaving him with a black eye and possible fractured ribs.

Ryan, 45, of New Hey Road, Marsh, was jailed for a total of 45 months after admitting the burglaries.

Sentencing him Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said there had to be a significant total term since he had “one of the worst records for burglary I have ever come across.”

“Some of these were clearly planned, they were determined in your efforts to get in through walls and roofs and they caused a lot of damage. In addition there were revenge attacks on three premises of your former employer. The only real mitigation is your guilty plea.”