Persistent burglar locked up

Picture courtesy of Google Street View

A burglar who targeted elderly residents in sheltered accommodation in order to fund his drug habit has been jailed after admitting a string of offences at Manchester Crown Court.

Thirty-year old Leon Lewis had just been let out of prison when he started his mini crime wave - which spanned Oldham, Rochdale and north Manchester - in December, 2017.

He would carry on stealing from his victims until March, 2018.

One of those he targeted was a 102-year old woman who said she thought Lewis was her carer when he entered the residence before he robbed her on Friday, March 16.

The woman described the burglary as a nightmare and that she had been left ‘frightened and upset.’

Appearing at Manchester Crown Court, Lewis admitted seven counts of burglary and one count of theft although he asked the court to take into consideration a further 31 offences.

Jailing him for seven years and four months, Patrick Field QC said: “At the heart of all of this selfishness on your part; a failure to have any regard as to how these old men and women have been affected.

“I have no doubt you wanted that many to fuel your sordid class A drugs habit.

"It’s difficult to comprehend the fear that they must have suffered at that time.”

In another incident Lewis smashed a window into an 83-year old woman’s flat in Moston.

He demanded the woman’s bank card and PIN number before stealing two mobile phones and cash.

He would later withdraw £800 from her accounts.

In all Lewis targeted properties across north Manchester as well as Middleton, Rochdale, Chadderton, Royton and Shaw.