Portsmouth burglar in £7,000 house raid spared jail

Louie Hurd, 23, of Samuel Road, in Portsmouth, admitted burgling a home in Rushfield Road, Liss.

Hurd was a friend of the householder's relative and breached their trust to take items.

All the jewellery and knives stolen were recovered from the April 21 burglary last year.

At Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, Hurd was handed a 26-week jail term suspended for a year.

The sentence was suspended as he is young, the incident took more than a year to be dealt with in court, he was street homeless and had drug debts.

Hurd has since changed his lifestyle and is in a relationship, and is working.

He must complete 20 days' rehabilitation activities.

Hurd must pay a £115 victim surcharge and £310 prosecution costs. Magistrates said the crime had an ongoing effect on the victim.