Portsmouth burglar, 29, spared jail for second time after being caught with drugs

Chauncey Hocking, 29, avoided an immediate jail term when he was sentenced to 18 months jail suspended for two years for a burglary in March 2017.

Now Hocking, of Osier Close, Tipner, has avoided prison again after police found cannabis at his home address on June 27, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

The drug discovered by officers was of an amount deemed only for personal use.

But as the offence took place within the period of his suspended sentence - which started on March 28 last year - the defendant was automatically brought back before the court to decide if the jail term would be activated.

But judge Timothy Mousley QC decided to spare Hocking, who admitted possessing a Class B drug, jail.

He told the defendant: ‘I am not going to activate the suspended sentence as it would be unjust to do so.

‘The (burglary) offence was committed in March 2017 and this offence is completely different in nature with it being possessing cannabis.’

Instead Hocking, who has 23 previous convictions to his name, was handed a £100 fine and told to pay a surcharge.

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