A dad who burgled a home while the family slept upstairs told to a court he had been motivated by the birth of his newborn baby, a court heard.

Christopher Ryder, 22, was jailed for two years and six months after admitting burglary and theft of a family home in Clayon-le-Moors.

Ryder, of Hendford Drive, Bradford, broke into the home with Nathan James Shields, 21, in the early hours of March 5 while a family with young children were sleeping.

The court was told that Ryder and Shields entered the home on Clayton Way and stole an iPpad and £20 cash before making off in the family’s Ford Focus.

Police were alerted to the theft shortly after 3am by the family and the car was picked up travelling along the M62 at 3.55am.

A pursuit ensued which ended on the A672 when the car crashed and overturned, Burnley Crown Court was told.

The defendants got out of the vehicle and handed themselves over to police who recovered the stolen items from inside the car.

Cam Dehsei, defending, said that Ryder regretted his actions and added that he was ‘determined’ to change.

He said: “He went with the intention to steal and he accepts that and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity

“The offender was financially motivated by the birth of his child, he has said that he needed to get some money together for his family.

“He regrets the life he had led so far, the majority of his teenage years have been spent in a custodial environment. He is determined for his family and society to change. He has offered his sincere apologies to those who he has offended against.”

Shields pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Sentencing Judge Lunt said that Ryder’s actions had had a ‘devastating’ effect on the victims.

She said: “You have a bad record for someone who is 22. Prison is not doing you good, you’re 22 and you look a lot older. You have got to stop this, you were a juvenile when you started offending and you are a man now, you have got to start acting like one.”

Judge Lunt added: “Hearing someone banging in your home in the middle of the night is terrifying, there were children in the house and a woman in the house, they will feel insecure for years. Burglary has a devastating effect.”

Shields of Brendon Walk, Bradford is due to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Friday, July 31.