No jail for Bognor drug addict who stole from schools and charities

Paul George, of Macklin Road, ransacked classrooms and stole money which was supposed to be for the elderly during a mini-crime spree.

His final burglary occurred at the beginning of May, when he broke into Bognor Regis Community College.

George entered the college by smashing a ground-floor window and then stole four laptop computers worth 1,200.

On January 1 this year, George raided his former school, St Edmund's Catholic School, in Arundel Street, Southsea.

He threw drawers on the floor and vandalised property as he searched for items he could sell on for cash.

Then at the beginning of April, the 35-year-old also struck twice.

He broke into the Age Concern Shop in Fratton Road, Portsmouth, and stole 63 in cash.

Later the same day he burgled a business in Arundel Street and stole six bottles of champagne and two of brandy.

George was later connected to the crimes because he left fingerprints and blood traces behind. At Portsmouth Crown Court, he was spared a prison sentence.

Instead Recorder Timothy Mousley QC imposed a nine-month community order under which George will be supervised by the probation service. He will also have to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation course as part of the sentence.

The court heard George had recently suffered a heart attack and lost the sight in one of his eyes as a result of his drugs use.

He had also already served 95 days behind bars on remand since his arrest '“ the equivalent of a six-month jail sentence.

Recorder Mousley QC said: 'You have abused illicit substances for nearly 20 years.

"There are now compelling reasons to suggest that you are prepared to do something about your drugs problem which in turn would eradicate your offending."

George's barrister Stephen Clayton told the court his client had been using crack cocaine and amphetamines at the time of the spate of break-ins.

George admitted four counts of burglary.

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