A burglar broke into a pensioner’s Ravensthorpe home - as he lay dying in hospital.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Dean Oates told police he was a heroin user and did not even remember what he had done at the property in June.
He said he had no idea the normal occupant was in his 70s and was absent at the time because he was ill in hospital and has since died.
Carmel Pearson prosecuting said Oates tried to jemmy a window open at the flat in Bradbury Street, Ravensthorpe before smashing it and climbing inside.
He made an untidy search of the property stealing a television set, watch, £40 in cash and change collected in a jar before leaving through the door using spare keys he had found inside the flat.
That meant when the victim’s family eventually discovered the break-in that the locks had to be changed , she said.
The victim suffered from Alzheimer’s and his family did not know what had happened to his treasured medals and whether he had disposed of them in the past so Oates had not been charged with that.
Oates was traced because a cloth left inside the flat was found to have his DNA on it. When he was arrested he accepted he must have been responsible but had no memory of it.
Ben Thomas representing Oates said there was no suggestion he was aware of the pensioner’s age or that he had deliberately targeted an elderly individual.
Fortunately the victim was also never made aware of what had happened at his home. He said Oates was remorseful and was willing to comply with any community sentence which would address his drug and alcohol misuse.
Oates, 37, formerly of Queen Street, Ravensthorpe, admitted the burglary and was jailed for two years eight months.
Judge Tom Bayliss QC said it was not a spur of the moment offence since he had gone equipped to commit it and although his victim had never known what had happened at his home significant property was taken.
“There has to be a lengthy prison sentence to reflect the gravity of what you did.”
