A REFORMED robber convicted of handling stolen goods has been given a second chance by a judge.

Repeat offender Stephen Nuth, 41, of no fixed abode, was temporarily spared jail after Judge Jonathan Fuller, sitting at Bournemouth Crown Court, heard he is now free of drugs and in steady employment.

Nuth was charged on a joint indictment with former pal Alan Bates, of Francis Road in Bournemouth.

Both men admitted three offences of handling stolen goods each.

Nuth also faced an additional two charges under the Firearms Act.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said the charges relate to four domestic burglaries in Garfield Avenue, Bourne Avenue, Chigwell Road and Redhill Drive, Bournemouth.

All took place on dates between March and May of this year.

“About four hours after the burglary at Redhill Drive had occurred, Mr Nuth was using a card which had been taken in the course of that burglary to purchase National Express coach tickets for him and Mr Bates to use,” Mr Ellacott said.

After the defendant’s arrest, a Rolex worth £4,500 was found at Nuth’s former address in Holdenhurst Road.

This was from the Bourne Avenue burglary. Arsenal memorabilia and a hoover from Garfield Avenue were also found.

Nuth’s arrest for the offences came on the day that a neighbour spotted him shooting pigeons from his window with a West Lake air rifle, which was also seized by police.

Although the weapon is ‘lethal barrelled’ under the Firearms Act, it is not classified as a dangerous weapon under the same act.

However, Nuth has previously served time in prison for robbery and cannot possess a firearm.

Bates was arrested the day after his co-defendant.

At his address, property suspected to be from Chigwell Road was found. It was discovered that in May the defendant had visited Cash Converters to sell a Fossil watch and stereo speakers later confirmed to be from the address.

Both Nuth and Bates were also initially charged with burglary, but this was not proceeded with by the prosecution and both were formerly found not guilty at the hearing.

Audrey Archer, mitigating for Nuth, said the defendant is “particularly disappointed with himself and angry at himself for having been involved in this”.

She said he is employed at a marketing company and clean of drugs.

Judge Fuller said he would postpone sentence for three months with the hope that Nuth “keeps out of trouble and shows commitment to abstinence”.

“With this appalling record, he knows that I can quite justify sending him inside for a couple of years,” he said, adding that it appears Nuth was “not naive” and made a “deliberate decision to handle stolen goods”.

“You have three months to show continued efforts to steer clear of trouble and substance abuse,” the judge added.

Nuth will appear before the judge again in December for sentence.

Bates, 29, who has also been remanded in custody since June 8, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and rehabilitation requirement.