CCTV caught serial burglar at kids’ home

A SERIAL burglar was caught after the manager of one of the attacked premises recognised his picture on a West Yorkshire Police website.

The staff member at Mirfieldbased Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust already had CCTV footage of Damien Wood after he broke into the charity’s grounds.

He was then able to identify the 40-year-old as responsible for a bur- “Drawers in the office were open (of Northorpe Hall) was able to glary at a Dewsbury school after his and items were strewn across the identify the defendant responsible image was posted on the Caught on floor. for the earlier offence.” Camera website. “Some paperwork and money had Wood burgled the Wilton Arms

Wood, of East Bath Street in Bat- been taken, including transactions pub based in Commercial Street, ley, admitted to three burglaries from people using the venue.” Batley, on August 21. when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ The safe had been opened and He climbed in through an insecure Court today. around £400 of money left in a cash toilet window at 4am and made

He broke into Northorpe Hall, box inside was taken. off with the cash register worth which supports children’s mental Earlier in the month on August 6, £1,500. and emotional health in Kirklees, on hundreds of pounds worth of damage Wood escaped by smashing a window August 18. was caused to St Paulinus Catholic at the front of the premises and

At 2.30am the manager received a Primary School in Dewsbury climbing out of it. call from its security company about when a window was smashed to CCTV footage caught him in the the break in and arrived to find some gain entry. act together with blood left at the lights on. Mr Wills said: “There were no scene.

Andy Wills, prosecuting, said: forensics but CCTV captured an Wood, who had 53 offences on his “CCTV showed a person approach image of the perpetrator. record, admitted committing two of the window, smash it and gain entry “When this was posted on the the three burglaries. into the building. Caught on Camera website the manager He said he was drunk at the time of the school break-in and couldn’t remember it but more than likely was responsible.

Magistrates sentenced Wood to a community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £750 compensation to the school, £400 to Northorpe Hall and £250 to the pub.