18-year-old burglar behind bars

An 18-year-old father of two who burgled a Shropshire home just eight days after being given a suspended prison sentence is now behind bars.

Kyle Ash, of no fixed abode, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday after he admitted burgling a home in Oakengates, Telford, on February 25 this year and attempting to burgle a nearby home the next day.

The court heard Ash had been given a 52-week custody sentence, suspended for two years, for similar offences at the same court on February 17.

He was yesterday sentenced to 36 weeks in a young offenders institute for each charge.

Judge Robin Onions also activated the suspended sentence and ordered him to serve 36 weeks of that consecutively.

Mr Mark Linkins, prosecuting, said the burglary involved a home in Innes Avenue. He said the owner returned to find a smashed window and property to the value of £1,538 missing.

The court heard police were alerted to the attempted robbery the following day by a 15-year-old girl who recognised Ash as he and another man tried the front door with a crowbar.

Miss Sarah Cooper, for Ash, said: "It is a real shame he has reoffended. He is a very personable young man to deal with. It appears peer pressure does get the better of him."