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A prolific burglar had his own home broken into while he was on remand in prison for a house raid in Leeds.

Christopher Hastings' council house was 'cleaned out' by another criminal as he was being held in jail awaiting sentence.

Peter Yates, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old dad carried out his burglary at a house in Leeds as a couple were asleep in bed.

A rucksack was stolen from the property which contained a bank card, a national insurance card, mobile phones and tickets worth £1,000.

The offence happened in the early hours of May 3 and shortly afterwards Hastings used the bank card to pay for goods in shops.

He was arrested after being recognised from CCTV footage of him using the bank card.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hastings also stole alcohol worth £252 from Morrisons in the Merrion Centre in Leeds city centre.

He went into the store with a women and put bottles of spirits into a bag before leaving without paying.

Hastings, of Glensdale Terrace, East End Park, Leeds, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and fraud.

He has 50 previous convictions, including for 39 offences of burglary.

Probation officer Jackie Brook said Hastings had lived in a council property for five years and it had recently been burgled.

Richard Reed, mitigating, said: "He now knows what it is like to be burgled.

"His property has been cleaned out. Obviously has some insight now to know what it is like to be on the receiving end."

Mr Reed said Hastings suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after suffering injuries to his bowel when he was stabbed with a samurai sword in an unprovoked attack.

He added: "Due to the delays in getting counselling he started taking drugs and that led to the slippery slope of becoming involved in burglary and fraud."

Jailing Hastings for two years and five months, Judge Christopher Batty said: "Going into people's homes is something that you do.

"You now know a bit about being on the receiving end of that.

"People are entitled to feel safe and secure and to keep their possessions in their own home.

"People who take those possessions have to accept custodial sentences."

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