Teenager put behind bars

A teenager from Telford has been locked up for 16 months after admitting a string of burglaries.

Craig Childe, 18, admitted breaking into a property in Trenleigh Gardens, Trench, Telford, while a 17-year-old girl was asleep inside.

Among the items stolen were an Xbox games console and pink LG mobile phone.

Childe, of Park Road Donnington, asked for a further 17 offences to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court today, including five shed burglaries, theft from cars and cycles, theft of petrol, taking vehicles without consent and attempted theft.

Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, said Childe was already subject to an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) and was in breach of it when he committed the Trench burglary.

Mr Recorder Rupert Mayo sentenced Childe a total of 12 months in a young offender’s institute for the burglaries, with another two months for the ASBO breach, to run consecutively.

“The burglary at Trendley Gardens was a serious matter because it involved breaking into someone’s house when it was occupied,” said Mr Recorder Mayo.

Childe was given a further two months custody, to run consecutively, for driving while disqualified, after sentencing had been adjourned so all the offences could be dealt with at once.

Mr Robert Price, mitigating, said Childe hopes to join the army in the future and had taken part in English, Maths and art classes while in custody awaiting sentence.

“He is extremely sorry for what he has done and wants to wipe the slate clean,” he said.