Householder hit thief over head with bat during '˜mini crimewave'

The three, ex-soldier Jordan O’Mara (25), Liam Heaton (20) and dad-to-be Luke Craig (26) had broken into victims’ works vans and stolen tools and equipment and had tried to raid a shed.

The defendants, who had been in a car bought that day, left a trail of damage and theft costing hundreds of pounds, but some of the haul was later recovered.

The town’s crown court was told O’Mara, who had since flouted a suspended jail term, and the other two defendants had moved a fence panel between two gardens and used bolt croppers to try and get into the shed.

The hearing was told how a vigilant Trawden householder saw them, chased after them and hit Craig over the head with a bat.

O’Mara, of Cog Lane, Heaton, of Penistone Street and Craig, care of Griffin Close, had admitted three counts of theft and one of attempted burglary, all committed on October 28th 2014.

O’Mara, who admitted breaching a suspended sentence, was jailed for a total of 40 weeks. Heaton received 24 weeks in custody, suspended for a year and Craig was given 36 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months’ supervision. All have criminal records.