Youth locked up over crime spree

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

A teenager responsible for a shocking crime spree has been locked up by a judge at Bradford Crown Court.

Steven Simpson, 19, was sent to a young offenders' institution yesterday for three and a half years after admitting crimes including house burglary and having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

But Judge Peter Benson was also asked to consider another 75 offences. The court heard Simpson had helped police clear up dozens of unsolved crimes to wipe the slate clean.

Prosecutor Sophie Drake listed: 21 house burglaries; 12 commercial burglaries; 11 offences of taking vehicles without consent; 29 break-ins at garages or sheds and two school burglaries.

Simpson, of Bonwick Mall, Buttershaw, admitted specific offences of house burglary, aggravated vehicle-taking, possessing a kitchen knife, criminal damage to three cars, burglary at a car spares business and sexual activity with a child.

Miss Drake said that during the break-in at Auto Spares and Salvage in Rutland Street, Bradford, last August Simpson left graffiti on a wall with the tag "Smack Rat".

The damage to the cars took place last July when Simpson was seen smashing windows on three vehicles outside the health centre in Buttershaw. He later said he had been walking over cars and smashing the glass with his legs.

The court heard Simpson was also the passenger in a car which crashed into a police vehicle at the end of a pursuit last March.

Simpson was arrested last September during a police inquiry into an allegation of rape involving the 15-year-old girl who had been drinking the night before. He later admitted an alternative charge of sexual activity with a child knowing she was 15.

Mitigating, Anthony Kel-brick said Simpson was sorry he had allowed his youthful enthusiasm for the opposite sex to get the better of him.

He said Simpson had taken advantage of the police's "come clean" initiative and he was now confident there were no other matters lurking in the background.

Judge Benson locked up Simpson for two years for the house burglary - which took place at night while the occupant was asleep upstairs.

Simpson was given a consecutive 12 months for the sex offence and six months for all the other matters he had admitted on the indictment.

He must register as a sex offender for ten years.

Detective Inspector Simon Bottomley, of Bradford South CID, later described Simpson as a prolific offender.

"It is a lot of offences to commit at that age and it was a way of life for him," he said. "We are pleased with the sentence."

Stephen Tempest, owner of Auto Spares and Salvage, said the raid had cost the firm thousands and the intruders had left a trail of mindless vandalism. He said: "They trashed the offices, ripped up photos of my children on my office desk, turned every drawer out and jumped all over everything.

"They took computers worth £2,000 and stole metal valued at £3,000 to £4,000.

"The computer had every bit of data on it, so we couldn't access the information and run the business. It took us a week to get sorted.

"I am glad he has been locked up, but it's not enough for all the offences."

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