A BURGLAR who punched a homeowner has avoided prison.

Lee Pullen was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Monday for the latest in a string of crimes.

The 32-year-old, of Burgan Close, Oxford, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of common assault.

Judge Ian Pringle heard that on July 4, Pullen broke into a flat in Rowland Hill Court and took a handbag from just inside the front door.

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Hugh Williams, prosecuting, said: “The homeowner Christopher Sertell was in the flat with his wife and their 22-month-old son.

“They were watching television at about 10.15pm when they heard the front door latch.

“When they went to investigate they found the door ajar and the handbag missing.”

He said because the handbag contained car keys, Mr Sertell went to move their car into a secure spot.

The court heard Mr Sertell then saw Pullen and confronted him, asking him who he was.

Mr Williams said Pullen replied: “Your worst nightmare” and then punched Mr Sertell “a couple of times”.

Police later identified Pullen on the flat’s CCTV cameras.

Abigail Bright, defending, said Pullen had volunteered to have an electronic tag fitted so police could monitor his whereabouts at all times.

She said Pullen should be enrolled on a work skills programme rather than sent to prison.

She said: “This would consider and address what are the risk factors, such as his lack of skills and addictions to alcohol and controlled drugs which he has been subject to.”

Judge Pringle sentenced Pullen to 12 months in prison for the burglary and three months for the assault, with both being suspended by 12 months.

He imposed a three-month curfew from 9pm to 7am and a five-day education and training course.

Pullen had a string of prior convictions, including actual bodily harm, shoplifting and criminal damage.

He also disappeared from an open prison in the middle of a three-year sentence for burglary, theft and assault in 2007.

Judge Pringle told Pullen: “You have an unenviable record going back a long way. You’re 32 and have 33 convictions. You are wasting your life.

“This sentence is to help you get your life back in order.”

 

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