Drug addict burglar who left trail of damage after attacks on Halifax businesses is jailed

Jordan Taylor, who was already subject to two suspended prison sentences, often used a brick to smash his way into cafes and independent shops during a spree of offences in January and February.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the 27-year-old stole tills and cash from the premises, but the damage he caused often exceeded the value of the property taken.

During his spate of offences Taylor also stole charity boxes leaving business owners to pick up the bill for the damage caused which sometimes ran into thousands of pounds.

The court heard his targets included various cafe premises and a fish and chip shop.

Recorder Paul Reid told Taylor, of Clare Road, Halifax, that the victims of his crimes couldn’t make insurance claims because it would have a dramatic effect on the subsequent cost of their insurance.

He said the offences had involved “gratuitous” damage just to fuel Taylor’s own drug addiction regardless of the devastating effect it had on the victims who were “struggling against the odds”.

Recorder Reid said he had read all the victim impact statements and they made very sad reading.

The court heard that in one offence Taylor stole about £140 in staff tips and the cafe owner felt she had to replace that money from her own pocket.

“You said to the police that you wanted to go back to prison. Well your wish as regards that will be granted,” said Recorder Reid.

“There is no alternative to an immediate custodial sentence of some length for this behaviour so serious is it and having such a terrible effect on the lives of all those victims.

Taylor admitted a series of offences including more than half a dozen non-dwelling burglaries and shoplifting matters and he was jailed for a total of two years and four months.