Dewsbury teens sentenced for burgling Mirfield pensioner

Drew Gandolf Evans had gone out to steal from cars and gardens with Christopher Evans on January 25, Leeds Crown Court was told today (Monday).

But the pair, who are not related, snuck into a house in Littlemoor Grove, Mirfield, when they saw an open window.

Prosecutor Simon Haring said the woman who lived there was in her bedroom when she heard a noise at around 12.30am.

She went downstairs to find one of the men in the middle of her lounge and the other climbing out the window.

Mr Haring said the woman asked what they were doing and Christopher Evans, 18, swore at her before the two men escaped.

Police found them at around 1.30am in Huddersfield Road, Mirfield. Drew Evans was carrying two satellite navigation systems and Christopher Evans had a car mobile phone charger.

When interviewed by police, Drew Evans, 19, said he was not involved in the burglary.

Mr Haring said: “He remarked in his interview that the burglary of an old person would be disgusting.”

Drew Evans admitted the burglary in a later interview, but said it was Christopher Evans’ idea.

Christopher Evans also admitted the crime in his second interview, but said he only decided to do it when he saw the open window while passing.

Mr Haring said: “The whole street is in fact a row of bungalows – there is no reason for anyone to be there.

“The prosecution would say that it is obvious these are the dwellings of elderly people.”

Giles Bridge, mitigating, said the two defendants had gone out to commit car crime when they saw the open window.

He said Drew Evans had gone to a special school and had gone out stealing to support his two children after his benefits were stopped.

Mr Bridge said he played a ‘subordinate role’ in the incident, adding: “We are dealing with someone of limited intelligence.”

He said Christopher Evans had been in custody since a hearing in January when both men admitted charges of burglary.

Mr Bridge said: “Christopher has found the just-over-a-month he has spent in custody very difficult.

“He has been subject to bullying and as a consequence of that has been moved to another wing.”

The Recorder of Leeds Judge Peter Collier QC sentenced Christopher Evans, of Chidswell Gardens, Dewsbury, to 30 months detention.

He said: “The burglary that you admitted is a serious one.

“I accept that you didn’t target the premises because I accept that your cognitive ability is not as full as it might otherwise be.”

Judge Collier sentenced Drew Evans, of Calder Road, Dewsbury to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He said: “You went out that night with Christopher Evans, who accepts some responsibility for leading you astray.

“You thought you were going to rob garden sheds and gardens of bikes but you saw that open window and decided that you were going to burgle that house.”