Bailed Oxford burglar offended again (From Oxford Mail)

Bailed Oxford burglar offended again

6:10pm Monday 20th July 2009 in

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A THIEF “given a chance” to go straight by a judge is back behind bars after breaking into a student hostel while on bail for another burglary.

Drug addict Darren Lock, 35, was jailed for three years at Oxford Crown Court yesterday under the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rule, after admitting burglary.

Lock broke into student rooms at Oriel College, in Oriel Square, Oxford, in May and stole a mobile phone and laptop worth £800.

The father-of-one was on bail awaiting sentence after admitting burglary and handling stolen goods when he committed the break-in.

Tim Boswell, prosecuting, told the court security footage showed Lock going into the college hostel with his jacket open and leaving with it zipped to the top concealing a large item.

He said: “When police saw the CCTV footage they immediately recognised Mr Lock.”

The laptop and phone were never recovered.

Lock had been convicted of burglary in June 2003, and was on bail after admitting burglary and handling stolen goods after a break-in in Hungerford, Berkshire, in July last year.

Iqbal Mohammed, defending, said Lock had intended to go straight when he was bailed by Judge Julian Hall.

But he hit rock bottom when his partner refused him access to their two-year-old daughter, so drifted back to drug users and dealers.

Lock, of no fixed abode, was told to carry out the burglary and never saw any money from the items he stole, Mr Mohammed said.

He added: “He’s ashamed to say he couldn’t kick the habit despite his very best efforts. He was led astray.

“All these burglaries were opportunistic in nature and committed to feed his drug habit – which has been this man’s life since he was nine years old.

“He’s very angry with himself. He sees nothing but the need to get money to take drugs.”

Judge Julian Hall sentenced Lock to three years in jail taking into account the 66 days he had served in custody awaiting sentence.

He said: “I gave you a chance hoping you might have the self-worth to avoid the drugs and put your life a little bit more in order.

“Towards the end of that period you committed another burglary in which a student’s laptop was taken.

“This can be catastrophic for a student as there will be a lot of work on there.

It is very serious and the third time you have been caught.”

As part of the Government’s ‘three strikes and you’re out rule’ burglars found guilty for the third time receive jail sentences.

Lock will be available for release halfway through his sentence.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk