Pub and house burglar Darren Smith has sentence slashed on appeal

A PROLIFIC burglar who was jailed for breaking into homes and pubs in South Yorkshire has had his sentence slashed on appeal by top judges.

Darren Smith (50) was locked away last October for his 11th offence of burglary or attempted burglary in a criminal career spanning five decades.

The drug addict began offending in 1979 while still a child and received his latest term — seven years behind bars — last year.

Smith admitted burgling The Nottingham House, in Broomhill, and The Thirsty Flame, in Rotherham, as well as a house in Kimberworth.

But despite his terrible record, top judges in London said his seven-year term was too tough and slashed it to five years and eight months.

Lord Justice Elias, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker and Judge Neil Ford QC said the sentencing judge had been too harsh on Smith.

“We have come to the view that it’s too high,” Lord Justice Elias told the Court of Appeal.

The court heard Smith, of Skelton Lane, Woodhouse, admitted three burglaries and an attempt at Sheffield Crown Court.

He got into The Nottingham House through an open window in March last year and stole thousands in cash.

He burgled The Thirsty Flame the following month, forcing a window and taking the keys to the pub.

Following that, he attempted to burgle a house in Sunnybank Crescent, Brinsworth, but was spotted on CCTV.

In May, he burgled a house in Richmond Park Avenue, Kimberworth, Rotherham, taking laptop computers and an expensive watch.

Lord Justice Elias said Smith's record was horrendous, having racked up convictions for 92 offences between 1979 and 2012.

But his jail term was cut to five years and eight months at the appeal hearing.