A thief was caught on camera trying garage doors just months after being given a suspended prison sentence for attempted burglary.

Ben Miller, 28, who admitted attempted burglary on the day of his trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, was one of three men captured on CCTV footage.

The justices were told that Miller's crimes were motivated by financial difficulties – and it was hoped an apprenticeship would keep him on the straight and narrow in future.

Jailing him for 18 weeks, chairman of the bench Fiona Clarke said: “We have decided that we’re going to activate the suspended sentence from the previous conviction.

“Clearly, you knew when you carried out this attempted burglary that you were subject to a suspended sentence order and therefore that that was likely to be the outcome and that is what is going to happen.”

Prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court on Wednesday morning that police were told on July 14 about a group of three men trying car door handles and attempting to break into garages on Delamere Way, Cumnor.

Investigators knocked on doors in the area and obtained CCTV showing Miller was part of the gang of three.

The defendant was arrested and a black tracksuit was found that appeared to be the one worn by Miller in the video footage.

He was interviewed and answered no comment to questions put to him.

Mr Atkins said: “Mr Miller knew full well on the night he was stopped by the police what had been happening and when it came to the interview he could have admitted it there and then.”

Mitigating, Will Alexander said his client supported a partner, with whom he had two children, and his mother.

“Mr Miller is a busy man, caring for both his own children and others’ children,” the advocate said.

He was a labourer and had an apprenticeship lined up with his partner’s father. His offending was usually linked to financial difficulties and it was hoped that having a job in the future would prevent him from committing crime.

Mr Alexander said the defendant had struggled during seven days on remand in July and had spent around a month on a 12 hour curfew tag. “He was a mess, quite frankly,” the solicitor said of Miller after his time on remand.

Miller, of Oakwood Way, Cumnor, pleaded guilty to non-dwelling burglary and admitted breaching his suspended sentence order. He was ordered to pay £250 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

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