Leeds robbers jailed after violent two-day ‘rampage’

Thieves who went on a 48-hour criminal “rampage” through Leeds have been jailed.

Lee Wakefield, 41 and Jessica Stewart, 28, carried out a series of violent offences across the city centre over a two-day period in February.

During one break-in the pair left one of the occupants with a broken arm, fractured leg and fractured ribs, while another suffered a head injury.

They were both jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

West Yorkshire Police said Stewart had threatened an elderly man with a what appeared to be a handgun and ordered him to hand over money on 28 February.

The victim handed over £200 and was left so shaken by the incident he moved out of the address shortly after, police said.

Later the same day, Wakefield and Stewart forced their way into a property in the Richmond Hill area of the city and demanded items from the victims.

The following morning, Stewart was then involved in an attempted robbery in Harehills, in which a woman walking with her adult daughter and two young children was threatened and ordered to hand over money.

Wakefield, of Wepener Mount, Harehills, Leeds was jailed for 13 years and nine months after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary, two counts of grievous bodily harm and one of actual bodily harm.

Stewart, of Simmons Court, Cross Green, Leeds, was jailed for 10 years and nine months after admitting robbery, aggravated burglary, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of an offensive weapon, burglary with intent to steal and attempted robbery.

Det Sgt Robert Kennerley said the pair went on the “rampage over a relatively short period of time.”

He added: “Between them, they caused serious physical injuries to their victims and left them traumatised.”