Lag tries to dig himself out of cells forward of housebreaking crime spree sentencing
In a plot similar to classic film The Shawshank Redemption, prolific burglar Brandon Milligan, 20, tried to avoid being sentenced by tunnelling his way out of his cell
A prolific burglar who threatened a woman with a hammer before stealing her Audi during a crime spree tried to dig himself out of prison before he was sentenced. Brandon Milligan, 20, was jailed for five years on Monday for his lengthy crime spree in Leeds between October and December last year.
The Shawshank Redemption fan stole three cars, smashed a woman’s patio door in front of her, carried a knife, nicked an ice cream and spat at a police officer during his ampage. The 20-year-old, of no fixed abode, has previously spent time in custody for burglary but that did not stop him from offending again.
Prosecutor Paul Canning told Leeds Crown Court a number of the 14 crimes took place in the same evening – December 12. He said Milligan first stole a Nissan Note from a property in Whinmoor Drive before turning his attention to a home in Whinmoor Crescent, where he stole ice cream from a freezer, Leeds Live reported.
Mr Canning said: “He let himself into the house and the owner woke and chased him from the property. He ran and got into the car he had stolen earlier.
“He’s then broken into a property and smashed a window with a hammer. The female victim went to investigate and saw him on the other side of the patio doors looking at her with a hammer in his hand. He used it to smash the door and then climbed over the sofa and raised it over his head, gesturing he would hit her with it.
“She ran out screaming and he stayed in the house and stole the keys to a white Audi A1. The woman’s neighbour heard screaming and notified a police officer nearby.”
Milligan managed to make good his escape and officers searched for him in Seacroft, where he was known to hang around. He was found hiding in a garden. Mr Canning said Milligan was “aggressive” and officers deployed their PARVA spray and he spat at one of them. He was found to be in possession of a lock-knife at the time of his arrest.
The court heard that Milligan went on to admit theft, handling stolen goods, burglary, attempted burglary, theft of a vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article and assaulting an emergency worker. He also asked for 19 offences to be taken into consideration when His Honour Judge Ray Singh sentenced him.
Mitigating, Leanne Clements, told the court a psychiatric report had been prepared and Milligan has diagnosis’ of PTSD and ADHD. She said he started taking drugs at the age of 9 following a childhood marked by domestic violence and neglect. Ms Clements said: “He’s now 20 and will have to experience an adult custodial sentence for the first time when he turns 21 at the end of the year…
“He has expressed his remorse and apologised for the assaulting the emergency worker offence not long after the offence. For the other offences to be taken into consideration, he has expressed remorse. he wanted to complete that process so his victims can get closure. He feels his actions were a cry for help, having found himself with nothing after being released from his last sentence.
“He said he didn’t receive help at his last sentence despite asking repeatedly for counselling and group sessions…He recognises he needs help to break the pattern of offending.”
His Honour Judge Singh jailed Milligan for five years, telling him: “You have now amassed over 100 offences in your young childhood. They continue unabated and your behaviour today while being brought to court and in the cells does demonstrate everything she [Ms Clements] has said on your behalf is not right.
“You caused damage in the cells trying to tunnel your way out, within hours of you appearing before me you behaved like that. You don’t fall to be sentenced for that but it demonstrates the person you really are – someone who doesn’t have any regard to other people’s possessions.”
Milligan was told he will serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
As he left the dock, two young men shouted to Milligan: “Take it easy my boy,” and “Quick two and a half.”
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