Leeds United fans jailed for stealing

Leeds United fans jailed for stealing £17,000 worth of sportswear from industrial unit near Harrogate

After robbing an industrial property near Harrogate of £17,000 worth of Leeds United football gear, two burglars were apprehended.
After working at the storage unit, Danny Bucknall, 41, and his 24-year-old cousin Kaney Barrett stole over 400 sportswear items, including Leeds United football shirts. Bucknall used his knowledge of the site’s layout and the security code to the main gate to break into the compound on an industrial unit in Long Marston, according to evidence presented in York Crown Court.

The “main driver” of the daring attack on February 4, according to prosecutor Michael Cahill, was Bucknall. He got into the York House compound on Wetherby Road in his Vauxhall Astra and then called in Barrett’s assistance to get into the unit a second time a few days later hours later, purportedly to steal further merchandise.
However, this time the police were already there, having been notified by a security firm whose CCTV footage showed two cars—a silver VW Golf and a Vauxhall Astra—parked on the property near the business unit.

Barrett, the Volkswagen’s driver who had been banned, attempted to drive around the industrial estate to escape after realizing that police had closed the only exit option at the main gate with a marked vehicle. However, he was eventually caught and taken into custody after being pursued by the authorities.

When Bucknall saw a police car was blocking the exit gate, he gave up driving the Astra.

More than 400 sports retail items totaling £17,000 that had been taken from the business unit were found during a vehicle check.

According to Mr. Cahill, there were first reports of a silver hatchback entering the area at approximately 11.35 p.m., which prompted police to be called to the industrial site.

But by the time they got there, the car was gone.

The car was driven back onto the property, and the security firm alerted the police again at around 1.30 am the next morning.

To prevent any cars from attempting to leave, officers went back to the compound and parked across the main gate, which serves as the single point of entry and exit.

While being questioned by police, Barrett remained mute, but Bucknall admitted to being the mastermind behind the burglary scheme.
Mr. Cahill stated, “He informed police that he had visited the unit before for a work induction.”

“He claimed he had remembered the gate code and had used it to enter the compound. He then broke a window to enter the apartment.”

Due to his two break-ins at the business unit, Bucknall, of Baileys Crescent in Leeds, was charged with two counts of burglary.

Barrett, of Leeds’ Lingfield Drive, was accused of driving while ineligible and without insurance in addition to one burglary accusation.
His offenses violated a suspended prison sentence that Leeds Crown Court had handed down in February of last year.

After being remanded in detention, they both acknowledged the offenses and appeared for sentencing today, February 27, via video connection.

According to the court, Bucknall had a history of 80 offenses, including robbery, shoplifting, conspiring to commit a burglary, and handling stolen property.

Barrett has seven prior convictions, including failing to stop for police and driving while ineligible.

The former college student who represents Barrett, Ardian Pollard, indicated that his client was only at the complex during the second raid when he was apprehended “red-handed.”

Relating to Bucknall, Ben Whittingham stated that his client, a father of three, had organized the raid following a relapse into drug use.

Judge Simon Hickey stated that although Barrett was also involved in the planning of the “sophisticated” burglary, Bucknall was undoubtedly the “prime mover” in the industrial raid and had asked his cousin for help in carrying it out.

Due to his driving record, burglary, and violation of a suspended prison sentence, Barrett received a 16-month prison sentence.
He received a 20-month driving suspension.

Given his lengthy criminal history, Bucknall’s offenses were made worse, and he received a 12-month prison sentence.