A man alerted police after he saw two people trying to get into neighbours’ garages and a house in Marsh in the early hours of the morning.
Catherine Duffy prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court after being disturbed by a noise around 3.20am on December 13 last year the witness looked out of his bedroom in Wellfield Road, and was suspicious about figures on a driveway nearby.
The two men walked up to the Audi on the drive and then to the door of the house before moving away again. The witness phoned the occupant of the house and the police and continued to watch.
He saw the pair walk down the drive of another property and when the security lights came on they walked out on to the street.
The police arrived soon after and were directed to another property and as they approached it two males appeared from the rear garden and ran off.
An officer chased one who managed to get over a fence but then ran down the cul-de-sac and was caught by another officer. That man turned out to be David Michael Lockwood who was dressed in dark clothing with his face covered apart from his eyes.
One of the garages in the street was found to be open and an electric saw had been taken from it but was recovered on grass outside another address. The handle of another garage door had been ripped off.
Ian Brook representing Lockwood said at the time he had benefit difficulties which had left him homeless and sofa surfing, and short of money. He realised he should not have gone along with the other man but had made progress in the months since and was now drug free.
Lockwood, 28 of Station Road, Fenay Bridge, admitted two attempted burglaries and a burglary of a garage. He was given a 12 month community order with a 30 day activity requirement and 250 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation for the damaged handle.
