Saying sorry could see teen offenders let off

Desmond Swayne said of the new Ministry of Justice guidelines: “Sometimes you wake up in the morning and think the world has gone mad; then you realise that something like this could only happen in Britain. No-one else would put up with it.”

The controversial proposals could see young drug addicts let off with “a conditional caution” if they say sorry to their victims or repair the damage they have caused.

The new guidelines coincide with the jailing of cocaine addict Benjamin Dixon, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment for burgling a string of Bournemouth homes in a bid to fund his drug habit.

Dixon, 22, admitted attempting to break into students’ accommodation in Stewart Road, Charminster, on February 10 this year and asked for six domestic burglaries to be taken into consideration.

He was described as a “danger to society” and “someone who must be kept off the streets” by Record Howard Palmer QC.

Mr Swayne, Tory MP for the New Forest, said burglary victims were “entitled to demand justice.

“If you don’t deal with petty crime the perpetrators will end up committing much more serious offences,” he said. “What we need is tougher sentences.” In Dixon’s case, Bournemouth Crown Court heard how all the offences had taken place following his release from prison on September 4 last year after he had served half of a 33-month sentence for burglary.

In his defence, Paul Hester said Dixon had been addicted to cocaine since the age of 15, adding: “For seven years that drug has ruled his life.”

Despite being surrounded by addicts in hostel accommodation following his release from prison, Dixon had managed to stay off drugs until he was refused access to his child.

Mr Hester added: “He became depressed, ran up £2,000 of drug debts and was subjected to threats before giving into temptation and turning to burglary.”

The court heard how Dixon was taking part in a drug rehabilitation programme in prison and had expressed remorse.