Community order for town centre burglar

Michael Plant (25), of Nelson Street, Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (11) for breaking into the Old Market residential complex on Market Street, Rotherham, in August.

He pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal at an earlier hearing and admitted a separate charge of possession of amphetamine at last Thursday's hearing.

Plant had been convicted of six other offences, including an affray in 2012 and a public order offence, Mr Mark Hughes, prosecuting, told the court.

Mitigating, Mr Adrian Burtoft told the court that Plant accepted he had kicked a door in but was intending to find somewhere to rest.

"He’s a young man who's not heavily convicted, he’s got some problems and needs some professional help,” he told the court.

“He doesn’t want to go into prison — he will lose his house and he needs a little help to get him onto the straight and narrow.”

Mr Stephen Bellamy, Chair of the Bench, ordered Plant to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activities as part of a 12-month community order.

Mr Bellamy said: “You need to know that this is your last chance saloon.

“If you don’t comply, there’s only one other viable option, which is custody.”

Plant was ordered to pay £40 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.