A WILSDEN burglar and his two accomplices – involved in a plot to break into big houses to steal cash, gold and jewellery – have been locked up for a total of more than 10 years.

The gang wore balaclava masks and gloves to smash their way into homes in Keighley, Shipley and Bradford, using specialist tools and equipment, Bradford Crown Court heard.

They terrified three children who were home alone, burgled a vicar while he was on holiday, and left a grandmother unable to sleep at night.

Stefan Grogan, 23, of Leeds Road, Windhill, Shipley; Matthew Crooks, 24, of Back Lane, Wilsden, and Nathan Stapleton, 19, of Back Dale Street, Shipley, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle.

Grogan was jailed for four-and-a-half years on Monday, Crooks for three years and four months and Stapleton was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a young offender institution.

Prosecutor, Andrew Kershaw, told the court four homes were burgled on August 9 last year.

Two bungalows in Wrose were targeted by gang members, who forced the doors with mole-grips and made off with £5,000 worth of property, including an Armed Forces services medal, jewellery and computers.

They next burgled a safe containing £8,000 from a shopkeeper’s house in Honeypot Drive, Shipley, and a vicar’s home, making off with a safe containing £2,350 of jewellery and an amount of cash.

The gang’s getaway car, a silver Astra, crashed the next day in Park Lane, Keighley. The occupants fled on foot but the defendants were linked by DNA evidence to the vehicle.

A replacement Fiat Punto was bought and the gang struck again on August 27, targetting homes in Utley, Bingley, Heaton and Frizinghall.

Mr Kershaw said one of the burglary victims, the Reverend Canon Peter Hutchinson, of Keighley, lost jewellery of sentimental value, but urged the judge to make any prison sentences as brief as possible.

An elderly woman victim was burgled just after learning her sister had terminal cancer. She no longer felt safe in her home.

Abigail Langford, Crooks’ barrister, said he was remorseful and realistic. He wished to make a public apology to his victims.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: “Three children home alone were frightened to death by men in balaclavas and gloves.”

After the case, Det Con Richard Oxley, of the Western Area Burglary Team, said: “Bringing these men to justice is a fantastic result, and I am delighted the court has recognised the seriousness of their offending by punishing them in this way.”