
A BURGLAR raided a priest's home while he slept before stealing his car.
Michael Cheetham, 43, was one of three men involved in the despicable crime, taking a Peugeot 5008 from outside Father Simon Firth's home, Minshull Street Crown Court heard on Thursday.
Prosecuting, Satpal Roth said Fr Firth was asleep at the presbytery of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, on Kingsway, Rochdale, when the crooks struck after 11pm last August 29.
Ms Roth described how two of the men 'circled' the car before approaching the presbytery.
They entered the priest's home and took the keys to the Peugeot, before stealing the car. Cheetham then drove the car away despite being disqualified from driving, the court heard.
Ms Roth told the court how Fr Firth had been left to feel uneasy' and 'vulnerable' following the incident.
Denne historien er fra March 17, 2024-utgaven av MEN on Sunday.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 17, 2024-utgaven av MEN on Sunday.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Under pressure! Blues boss suggests side is feeling heat
PEP Guardiola accepted that the pressure got to City on and off the pitch on Saturday with a Premier League top four finish still up in the air after drawing with Brighton.

Insult to injury as Pep laments more players facing spell out
PEP Guardiola lamented more Manchester City injuries as his Premier League champions stumbled again in the race for Champions League qualification.

How women are getting a fairer hearing in the courts
IT HAS been over 100 years since the first woman was called to the Bar in 1922. Ivy Williams was the first woman to qualify as a barrister, and whilst she did not practice, she did go on to teach law.

LET THEM EAT CAKE!
Queues go round the block as viral bakery outlet offers 1,000 free slices

There's no let up for Leicester as boss demands a winning habit
RUBEN Amorim says United must continue with humility and hunger as they head to Ruud van Nistelrooy's relegation-threatened Leicester.

QUICK SALES PITCH
Chris Slater find out what residents think of the neighbourhood where houses sell faster than anywhere else in Greater Manchester

They took out 200 cancerous lumps - but I'm proud of my scars
How Saskia, 24, shared her story with millions

Mistakes are costing City dear as top four sliding out of view
NOT for the first time this season, Fabian Delph came to mind.

Family's anguish as police probe mystery death
'Our Rick had a heart of gold. He was known and loved by many'

Anniversary of Cameron 'hate' claim
IT'S nearly the ten year anniversary of a memorable political story: the day David Cameron was caught on a microphone saying Yorkshire people \"hate each other\".