Bolton: Burglar twice targeted ex-partner's house

Gareth Woods, 42, twice broke into the woman’s house over last autumn, letting himself in the first time late at night after persistently phoning her after their relationship came to an end.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the second time he had burgled her house, stealing a bank card which he used twice before it was frozen by the bank.

Prosecuting Adam Watkins said: “On checking CCTV footage, the complainant saw the defendant in this case, albeit hooded, walking along the side of her address.”

Mr Watkins told the court that the relationship between Woods, of Bradford Street, Bolton and his former partner ended in 2021 after she said he had stolen money from her.

The first time Woods illegally entered his ex-partner’s house had been on September 24 that year when he ended up pouring a can of beer over her and knocking her to the ground.

As he left, she was able to lock the door behind him but he then kicked his way back in, damaging the lock and poured a bottle of wine across the floor.

Woods was arrested on October 10 and answered no comment to questions put to him by the police.

He was granted bail on the condition that he did not go back to the woman’s house, but Mr Watkins told the court it was not long before he breached this condition.

Woods went back to burgle the house on November 16 where he stole a bank card which he then used to buy cigarettes and pay for taxi fare.

Police officers were able to get access to audio footage of Woods ordering the taxi

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

He was arrested again soon afterwards and pleaded guilty to using violence to enter premises, burglary, assault by beating and two counts of fraud before the magistrates court.

Emma Clarke, defending, argued that Woods deserved credit for having pleaded guilty to his crimes at the earliest possible opportunity.

She said: “He now accepts that the escalation was entirely wrong and hr feels a great deal of remorse.”

She added: “He says that his anger comes from a place of wanting to continue having a civil relationship.”

Ms Clarke told the court that Woods, who appeared before the court on video link from prison, also accepted that he had problems with drink and drugs which he was determined to work to address.

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The Honourary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh agreed to suspend Woods’ sententence but said he wanted to make it ‘absolutely crystal clear’ to him that if he breached the terms handed down to him the ‘overwhelming probability’ was that he would face a jail sentence.

Judge Walsh sentenced Woods to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days with 100 hours of unpaid work.

He also hit Woods with a restraining order forbidding him from contacting or going near his former partner for three years.