Squatter smashed Leeds Council house window and received stolen television

Leeds Crown Court heard police were called to a house on Stonecliffe Close, Farnley, to reports of two people breaking into the property on May 15 last year.

Officers arrived and discovered a smashed window but nobody was at the property.

Chloe Cleary and her sister were then found hiding in bushes on the opposite side of the road.

Anna Bond, prosecuting, said the tenant of the house was not living there at the time as it was undergoing repairs by the local authority.

When she returned she discovered that there had been a burglary.

Her passport, furniture and a set of spare keys had been stolen.

The victim found delivery slips from a courier company for items ordered in her name.

The matter was reported to police and officers went to another house where Cleary lived with her sister.

The passport was found in Cleary's sister's room. The keys to the council property were also recovered.

Further investigation revealed that fraudulent purchases had been made in the victim's name from a phone linked to Cleary's sister.

A television was found in Cleary's room which had been ordered in the victim's name.

She accepted smashing the window. The 20-year-old also accepted being given the television by her sister and knowing it was stolen.

Cleary pleaded guilty to criminal damage and handling stolen goods.

Stephen Littlewood, mitigating, said Cleary pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

She was made the subject of a 12-month community order, during which time she must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.