Burglar who stole £13,000 of laptops walks free after judge cites prison overcrowding

Serial burglar Luke Handley, 41, avoids jailhouse for £13,000 laptop raid contempt an appalling grounds of much than 53 erstwhile crimes arsenic justice cites the situation overcrowding crisis

A serial burglar who wheeled £13,000 worthy of laptops retired of an bureau successful a suitcase has walked escaped aft a justice took into relationship situation overcrowding.

Luke Handley, 41, has an appalling grounds aft carrying retired astatine slightest 53 burglaries but insists helium has turned his beingness around. Handley stole 12 laptops and an iPad from the 4th level of an bureau artifact successful Great Titchfield Street, cardinal London, connected June 12, 2023, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales said she had to "bear successful caput situation overcrowding" erstwhile she sentenced Handley to 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 days of wearing an physics tag. It comes aft the fig of inmates being held deed a grounds precocious past period amid the jailhouse overcrowding crisis.

About 1,750 prisoners were freed aboriginal a fewer days aboriginal successful an effort to escaped up space. Before helium was sentenced, Handley work retired an affectional missive to the justice and said helium present wants to enactment arsenic a barber.

"I would similar to apologise for my selfish behaviour, and I would similar to apologise for my past offending, I americium sorry. I person been cutting hairsbreadth to marque a surviving successful situation and volition proceed erstwhile I americium released, I privation to unfastened my ain barbershop and judge that I could bash so."

Prosecutor Sophia Baig said: "On June 12, 2023, the suspect attended Elsey Court a gathering which contains respective offices. Shortly aft helium leaves with a suitcase.

"Nicola Sheila, HR manager for 1 of the firms successful the gathering made a connection confirming that the suspect had accessed the bureau and had stolen 12 laptops and 1 ipad, with a full worth astir £13,000. The steadfast has suffered a nonaccomplishment successful clip and wealth to regenerate the stolen laptops and a client's enactment was delayed."

Handley was arrested the pursuing time by a information manager aft returning to the gathering wearing the aforesaid clothes. Judge Hales said fixed Handley's erstwhile convictions she would usually enforce a custodial sentence.

But fixed overcrowding successful prisons, the clip helium had already served and his moving plea, she was persuaded otherwise. Judge Hales said: "You person told maine of your ambition to prosecute a vocation arsenic a barber, that seems to beryllium a agelong held ambition which has not yet got disconnected the ground.

"If you are not fixed assistance and guidance I person nary uncertainty that it is incredibly apt that you volition reoffend, successful information I judge it is astir inevitable.

"If you are capable to prosecute that vocation arsenic a barber it whitethorn beryllium that you tin change, and that you privation to I volition besides carnivore successful caput the situation overcrowding, successful the circumstances, and fixed the clip you person already served, I americium going to follow the recommendations of the pre-sentencing report, alternatively than enforce a custodial sentence."

Handley, of Croydon, southbound London, was sentenced to a assemblage bid for 2 years with 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 days wearing an physics tag.

"I don't privation to spot you again" said Judge Hales.

He insisted helium has enactment disposable astatine a tiny barbershop successful Croydon.