Footballer spared jail sentence (From Daily Echo)

Romsey Town player Luke Harry admits burglary

7:00am Sunday 7th October 2012 in News By John Hoskins, Court Reporter

Romsey Town footballer Luke Harry was spared an immediate prison sentence after he and others had tried to force their way into a Southampton flat.

The city crown court heard the teenager had been under peer pressure to drive them to the scene because he was the only one who had a car.

Prosecutor Gary Venturi said the occupant hearing a knock on the door opened it and was confronted by five people but with the help of another man in the flat managed to close it. However, while the door was ajar, one of the group reached it and grabbed keys hanging on a hook.

The 19-year-old, who was top scorer for Romsey Town reserves last season, was linked to the burglary after he had left a fingerprint on the door.

In interview, he told police they had heard the men were dealing in cannabis and wanted to steal it.

Harry, a student, of Angelica Way, Whiteley, was given a six-month suspended sentence coupled with an order to undertake 180 hours’ unpaid work for the community.

He had admitted burglary before magistrates who committed him for sentence.

Darren Bartlett, defending, said Harry had been exploited and had learnt a valuable lesson in not giving way to peer pressure.

“It was completely out of character. He has let his family down, he has let himself down,” said Mr Bartlett, who added that in addition to playing for Romsey, Harry coached youngsters.