A HAMPSHIRE man has avoided prison after stealing thousands of pounds in cash from a pizza takeaway.

Samuel Cullen from Southampton pleaded guilty to burglary at the premises in Fleet on November 27 last year.

The 31-year-old, of Yeovil Chase in Bitterne, stole £2,800 from a safe in a backroom in the takeaway branch.

The court also heard that Cullen disabled the CCTV system and broke the safe, causing more than £1,000 in damages.

Daniel Reilly, mitigating, said: “For him to be able to recognise all of his shortcomings provides hope that he can learn from this.”

Judge Susan Evans QC at Winchester Crown Court, gave Cullen a suspended sentence of 14 months, suspended for 18 months.

She said: “You have been in custody for some time and I can given you full credit for your plea of guilty.”