Serial burglars locked away for 876 days

A PAIR of burglars have been sent to a young offenders institute after disturbing householders in the night.

Curtis Jones (20), of Ripponden Road, Oldham, and Jason Ashworth (19), of Granite Street, Derker, were each given sentences of 876 days at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how both men were involved in a burglary where a caravan in Browning Road was ransacked and a stick was used to hit the owner’s son.

In another incident, Jones was caught clambering over a garden wall in Vulcan Street by the owner at 3am while a man on Tilton Avenue woke to find his patio door smashed.

Prosecuting, Lisa Boocock, said: “They are well known on the estate for causing trouble and acting together — particularly for burglary offences at night.”

Defending Jones, Michael Hopkinson, said Jones had faced a difficult time after the untimely death of his mother.

Ashworth’s defence, Benjamin Knight, said his client had been smoking cannabis since the age of 10 and that the time he had already spent in prison, had done little to dissuade him from committing crime. Judge Peter Larkin, said the pair had reached “three strikes” as Ashworth already had 23 convictions.

Jones was sentenced for four burglaries, one of attempted burglary and one of affray, all committed while he was on a community order. Mr Larkin told Ashworth: “For a man of 19 you have an appalling record,” as he sent him down for affray and a burglary.