Ian Tordoff used electricity from the lamppost to power outbuildings and workshops, Leeds Crown Court was told.

The supply also powered four televisions, lighting and domestic appliances including a dishwasher, a washing machine, a microwave, a fridge-freezer and two stereo systems.

Damaging property

Tordoff, 44, of Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, had denied the illegal use of electricity between June 1, 1996 and March 21, 1997 and damaging property belonging to Yorkshire Electricity.

Tordoff put others at risk by hooking up to the supply

He was convicted by a jury at the end of a four-day trial on April 24.

Yunus Valli, prosecuting, told the court an illegal connection was found at the base of a lamppost outside Tordoff's property with a cable leading into the premises.

Engineers from Yorkshire Electricity told the court that whoever had connected the electricity supply to the lamppost had taken a considerable risk.

Denied all knowledge

Tordoff had denied all knowledge of the illegal connection and claimed he used generators to power the property he had lived at for eight years.

Passing sentence, Assistant Recorder Jennifer Kershaw QC told Tordoff that stealing electricity was a serious offence and the connection he had made to the lamppost had put others at serious risk.

The judge sentenced Tordoff to four months for stealing electricity and three months, to run concurrently, for the damage offence.

Scott Wilson, defending, said his client was a hard-working, industrious man seeking to provide for his family.