A Holbeach man who helped to burgle an isolated home in the town was today (Wednesday) jailed for nine months.
Daniel Smith, 26, had been given a nine month suspended jail sentence for his role in the burglary at Fleet Lodge on June 26.
Smith, formerly of Pheasant Street, was also ordered to complete 50 rehabilitation activity requirement days when he was originally sentenced on October 1.
But a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was told an address suitable to social services and the Probation Service could not be found for Smith to activate the suspended sentence.
Judge James House KC said he was therefore in a position where he was required to re-sentence Smith.
Passing sentence Judge House admitted Smith could feel “hard done by.”
But Judge House urged Smith not to throw away all the good work he had done.
“This should not have happened, appropriate steps need to be taken so it does not happen again,” Judge House explained.
The original sentence hearing was told Smith had been “encouraged” by another more prolific burglar to take part in the break-in.
Joshua Lawrence-West, 23, was jailed for two years earlier this month after he admitted three Holbeach burglaries including the Fleet Lodge offence and burgling Holbeach vicarage.
The court heard Lawrence-West broke into Fleet Lodge and took a number a number of items during an afternoon burglary.
David Eager, prosecuting, said Lawrence-West then encouraged Smith to go with him when he returned to the property on the same day.
When the home owner returned from work he discovered two bikes had been stolen along with other items including an SLR camera and a set of commemorative coins.
Entry had been gained through a damaged window.
The court was told Smith had already spent three months on remand in custody.
Steve Taylor, mitigating, said Mr Smith felt he had been ill-served by the authorities after making good progress.
“My client recognises the predicament he is in. The outcome is somewhat inevitable,” Mr Taylor told the court.
“I’m afraid Mr Smith has been left in a situation where he feels he has been badly let down and everyone has been ganging up on him.”
