A cancer patient missed a vital scan after a thief broke into a car and van. Gareth Handley's actions caused serious damage to the vehicles - meaning the man's son was unable to take him to hospital.
The man , who had bowel cancer, died before he could get to a rearranged scan three weeks later, a court heard. He has now been left haunted by the fear that he would never know whether a chance to help his father because of the thief's damage, Hull Live reports.
Handley, 38, of Hull, admitted two offences of burglary, three of theft from a vehicle and another of using threatening words or behaviour. He was jailed for two years and four months and loudly shouted and swore after the sentence was handed down, yelling: "I think it's proper disgusting."
Michael Forrest, prosecuting, said that a man discovered that two of his vehicles, a Peugeot 306 and a van, had been broken into in Ringstead Garth, Bransholme, on December 19. A window was smashed on the car and a small amount of change from an ashtray was stolen.
The van was forced open at the side and tools and a rucksack were taken, with the total cost of replacing a door and a window put at £500. Blood was found on the ashtray and it was traced to Handley.
The man said that he had been supposed to take his father for a full body scan but he had been forced to delay the appointment for three weeks because of the break-in. "He would have gone for the scan if the vehicle had not been broken into," said Mr Forrest.
In another break-in at KFC in Kingswood, Hull, at 3.30am on February 6, Handley and an accomplice, both riding bicycles, looked through a window and used a sledgehammer to smash glass. They opened tills and found a small safe before using the sledgehammer to break it free and carry it away.
There was no cash inside the safe and it was found abandoned in a park. Handley threw the sledgehammer into bushes. He was identified from his clothes on CCTV.
In another incident on January 2, Handley threatened to stab a man who challenged him after he broke into a car and stole an item. The man grabbed and detained Handley and did not release his grip. Handley swung something in a carrier bag, which hit him.
On November 16, Handley broke into a vehicle on a drive in James Reckitt Avenue, Hull, by smashing a window. He squirted body spray all over the front seat, leaving it wet, and took £4 cash and toiletries. A pillow, which had a family picture on it and was of sentimental value to the owner, was smeared with blood.
Handley was identified from forensic tests on this. The woman who owned the car said she been saving money to buy presents for family and friends and she had to use money from her savings to pay for repairs.
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Handley also broke into the premises of the Hull Artist Research Initiative charity, with an accomplice, by forcing a back door, at 4.55am on February 21. A camera and £20 cash were stolen. He was later stopped by police and the camera was found on him.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Handley had an unenviable list of previous convictions. "This is a man who has a long-standing drug addiction," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
"The defendant was in the grip of drugs. His lifestyle was chaotic and he has had no stable accommodation. The pattern of his life has been a vicious circle. In two weeks' time, he should be drug-free. He is hoping that, when he is released, he will be able to find employment and to do something more productive and useful with his time than committing offences.
"He hopes that, when he is released, there will be more support for him and that he has better willpower. He knows that he must help himself if he is to stay away from drugs or he will simply spend longer and longer in custody."
'Appalling history'
Judge John Thackray KC told Handley: "You have got an appalling history of previous convictions. You have been before the courts on numerous occasions.
"The time has come when there must be a very significant sentence in relation to you to try to deter you from committing offences."
