A prolific burglar responsible for the theft of £150,000 worth of goods, and an untold cost in human misery, has been told his jail term was not a day too long.

Jack Arthur Trotter, 24, was part of a gang which carried out 17 break-ins in the Cleckheaton, Liversedge and Heckmondwike areas, between April 2014 and January last year.

Trotter, of Dewsbury Road, Cleckheaton, personally took part in eight of the raids.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle at Leeds Crown Court and was jailed for eight years three months in September last year.

Now he has asked Lady Justice Sharp, Mr Justice Nicol and Judge Eleri Rees, at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, to cut his time behind bars.

The court heard that the gang targeted homes with valuable cars on the drive, taking car keys and making off with vehicles.

Many young families were raided.

A newborn baby was present in one burgled home and a heavily pregnant mother in another.

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Additionally, valuable jewellery was taken - including an irreplaceable wedding ring - which had sentimental value far beyond its cash price.

Several families were so distressed by their ordeal that they felt compelled to move house.

Mr Justice Nicol said the victim impact statements of those whose homes were violated were “harrowing and graphic.”

Lawyers for Trotter pleaded for his sentence to be reduced.

They pointed out that he had admitted his guilt and had not served a lengthy prison sentence before.

His youth should have been taken into account more, as well as the fact that he had no previous convictions for burglary at the time.

But, dismissing his appeal, Mr Justice Nicol said: “In our judgement this sentence was amply justified, and was neither manifestly excessive nor wrong in principle.”