Dad-son burglar duo sent to jail

A DAD and son who broke into a family home were caught after the couple who lived there returned home from a shopping trip.

Darren and Marc McCrory were jailed for a total of eight years over the burglary in Tingley. Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said the offence took place on November 19 last year at a house on Haigh Moor Road.

The couple who live at the property were out food shopping when the defendants broke into the house.

Ms Pearson said the couple returned home while the burglars were still inside their home. They were immediately concerned as their pet dog was at the door waiting for them despite it being locked in the kitchen before they went out.

The victims went into the house and found items strewn around the lounge, including a knife. The female victim went into the kitchen and was confronted by Darren McCrory.

She shouted for her partner and he managed to pin the defendant to the floor. Police were contacted as Darren was held to the ground. The defendant tried to reach into his pocket and the victim feared he was trying to get a weapon so pulled his jumper up over his head.

Marc was upstairs during the disturbance and jumped out of the couple’s daughter’s bedroom window. He then began kicking the kitchen door in a bid to get inside to rescue his dad.

Marc was arrested after he was identified from CCTV footage obtained from neighbouring properties. Darren, 47, of Syke Close, Tingley, and Marc, of Ovenden Way, Halifax, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Paul Canfield, mitigating for Darren, said the defendant has a long-standing addiction to heroin and cocaine but had been free of drugs while in custody. Ian Howard, for Marc, said his client had also struggled with addiction and had taken a cocktail of drugs before carrying out the offence. They were both jailed for four years.

The couple who live at the property were out food shopping when the defendants broke into the house.