A BURGLAR escaped jail after a judge said giving him a drug rehabilitation sentence was the best way to protect the public.
Brian Jackson, 45, was caught in a Southampton flat by its occupier who had just returned from helping a neighbour move furniture.
Prosecutor Christopher Wing described how Jackson tried to bluff his way out of trouble by claiming to be from security but the pair scuffled, during which a picture was broken, before he got away. However, he was trapped by close circuit television.
Jackson, of Golden Grove, Southampton, admitted burglary and stealing about £40 worth of meat and cheese from a St Mary’s supermarket. He was spotted by two plain cloth police officers passing by and arrested.
Judge Peter Henry told Jackson he was giving him “one last chance” after hearing how he had taken steps to stop his drug taking, which lay behind much of his offending.
He received a 51-week suspended sentence coupled with 18 months supervision and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
