A judge has spared a burglar a jail term after ruling there were “exceptional circumstances” in his case.
Jamie Dominic Paris was facing a statutory minimum of at least three years imprisonment for committing his fourth domestic dwelling burglary.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard he entered a room on the second floor of an address in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, on the evening of January 13.
Paris, 33, stole a laptop and watches from the flat but he was arrested later that night.
Prosecutor Tom Wright said Paris was arrested because he was wanted on a warrant in the magistrates’ court for failing to attend for unrelated matters. He was found with some of the items taken during the burglary.
The defendant, of Seaview Road, Parkstone, pleaded guilty to a single count of burglary and he appeared via video link from custody to be sentenced on Monday, June 5.
Mitigating, Richard Martin told the court he believed there was sufficient reason not to impose the three-year minimum term, which is the common outcome for defendants who have committed three or more dwelling burglaries.
He said the defendant had made good initial progress while remanded in custody to tackle his drug addiction and he could take further strides in the community.
Mr Martin said: “I hope the court can see there is a very strong foundation for giving him an opportunity to tackle his addiction once and for all.”
The defendant had the support of his mother and those in his church community, the barrister said.
“Maybe we are in that little spot where he is ripe for rehabilitation,” Mr Martin said.
“He needs to put his good work so far and the support that assists currently into the community as that is where the real test will be for someone like him.”
In relation to the burglary, Mr Martin said the defendant was using drugs in a doorway in Old Christchurch Road when he found the doorway was unsecure and he went inside.
Judge Susan Evans KC said it was a relatively low-level burglary, while she also factored in Paris’s guilty plea, his personal mitigation and the defendant’s “apparent” motivation to address his addiction.
Judge Evans KC issued Paris with an 18-month community order, which included a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
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