Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Thursday 6th March 2025, at 20:15hrs
Three men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after admitting to a widespread campaign of burglaries and vehicle thefts that terrorized communities in West and South Yorkshire.
Stevie Lakin, Declan Dale, and Mason Wall were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today for their involvement in a series of crimes spanning nearly nine months.
Stevie Lakin, 20, of South Elmsall, received the harshest sentence of nine years and six months imprisonment.
Declan Dale, 22, of South Kirkby, was sentenced to two years and eight months, while Mason Wall, 18, of Wragby, was given three years and four months.
All three pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit burglary dwelling with intent to steal, a substantive burglary dwelling charge, two counts of attempted burglary dwelling, and three counts of theft of motor vehicles.
The conspiracy charge alone encompassed a staggering 37 burglaries across Pontefract, Upton, South Elmsall, Castleford, South Kirkby, Wakefield, Hemsworth, Skellow, Barnsley, and Crofton, committed between November 30, 2023, and August 6, 2024.
The additional offences occurred in South Kirkby and Upton in August 2024.
Their criminal spree came to an end following a theft from a motor vehicle in South Kirkby on August 8, 2024. A tablet computer stolen from the van was tracked using location services to a nearby address, leading to the arrest of Lakin, Dale, and Wall, who were found in possession of the stolen item and other stolen property.
Detective Sergeant Lewis Hibbert of Wakefield District Crime Team (DCT) expressed relief at the sentencing, stating,
“These males have been responsible for a significant number of offences both in Wakefield District and over the border in South Yorkshire.
I know the concern that burglary offences cause in our communities, and I hope the victims and wider public are reassured that these men are now behind bars.”
He further explained that the team’s meticulous investigation, including the analysis of seized phones containing photos and videos of the group committing crimes and speeding in stolen vehicles, played a crucial role in securing the convictions.
“After their initial arrest, we were able to link this group to a number of other burglary and theft from motor vehicle offences and build enough evidence to ensure they were immediately charged and remanded into custody, preventing any more offending.
While they were on remand, my team were able to gather evidence about Lakin, Dale and Wall’s involvement in 37 further burglary offences,” said Detective Sergeant Hibbert.
The investigation is ongoing, however, as police are seeking to identify two additional males captured in the group’s videos. One of the men is referred to as “Barlow” in the footage.
“Two males are featured in the videos who have not been identified as part of our enquiries so far. Anyone who recognises either of these males, one of whom is referred to as ‘Barlow’ in the footage, is urged to make contact,” urged Detective Sergeant Hibbert.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wakefield DCT via Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 13240601378.
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