Advent calendars, beef joints and even a mattress – serial Morley shop thief finally put behind bars for 21 thefts in just five months

Karl Ryder, 29, stole items as diverse as meat, detergent, tea, televisions and even a mattress, during crime spree lasting from November 2021 to April 2022.

Ryder, of Glenn Road, Morley, also had a penchant for stealing confectionery, taking advent calendars, tubs of Quality Street and various other chocolate products from Aldi on numerous occasions.

A sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court heard Ryder even stole a television from the wall of a pub, before later returning to apologise to bar staff.

Ryder had pleaded guilty to 21 offences of theft and one of burglary.

In November 2021, Ryder went into Aldi in Morley, and stole 24 advent calendars and 20 tubs of Quality Street. Over the coming months, he would return to the same Aldi store three times to steal chocolate.

Also in November, he stole five boxes of Yorkshire Tea, worth £22, from the Morley branch of Home Bargains. He would return four more times to steal a total of 30 bottles of laundry detergent.

A furniture store in Morley would see Ryder make off with a chest of drawers worth £135 and a mattress worth £155 during December.

Ryder would make several trips to Morley Asda, despite a previous ban from the store, to steal televisions. He took off with a 50 inch TV worth £289 on November 26, another two televisions worth £99 each on January 11, and another three worth £297 on January 14.

It wasn’t until January 18 when he was finally caught by the store’s security staff – attempting to steal yet more televisions worth £289.

Ryder was bailed by police and told not to enter Aldi, Asda, B&M and Home Bargains. He also tested positive for a class A drug.

Despite the bans, it took him until January 30 to reoffend, returning to Aldi to steal four beef joints worth £48.

In February, Ryder took a television worth £500 from the wall of the Commercial pub in Morley. The court was told that Ryder returned to the and told bar staff he wanted to pay the pub back, and that he committed the offence while high on drugs.

Ryder also targeted a British Heart Foundation charity shop, breaking in with a crowbar and smashing glass before making off with a charity box. He later targeted the Morley branch of B&M, stealing a case of Fosters Lager worth £8.

He was finally caught on April 30 in Bradford Morrisons when he was attempting to steal alcoholic drinks.

The court was told the total value of what was stolen added up to £2,369.09.

Mitigating for Ryder, Lydia Pearce told the court: “He admits the offences and he did them due to his drug habit.

"He has been clean from drugs for a number of months now and no longer drinks alcohol.”

She added he wanted to find work as a painter and decorator and was currently applying for housing with his fiancée.

Sentencing Ryder to 20 months in prison, Judge Robin Mairs said: “You earned the title of being a prolific shop thief.

"The court can have no confidence that a community sentence is workable.

"These offences are so serious that a custodial sentence is needed.”