A third-strike burglar has been sent to a residential drug rehabilitation programme after telling a judge he wants to change his life.

James Peter, 42, of Cherwell Avenue, Kidlington, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday (September 12) morning for a count each of burglary and theft.

The defendant has been in court previously for similar offences, including stealing £300 worth of champagne from a Sainsburys store in December last year.

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His defence barrister, Gareth Jones, told the court that his client had been offered a placement at a residential drug rehabilitation programme in Burnham-on-Sea after being ‘impressed’ with his commitment to detoxing.

As a result, Judge Ian Pringle handed Peter a community order to complete the 12-week programme instead of what could have been a three-year custodial sentence.

He said: “This is your chance to make a complete change in your life…take it with both hands.”

During the sentencing, it was heard that Peter had been caught stealing from a Budgens store on September 4 last year in Yarnton – taking a total of £98.65 worth of meat.

On January 5 this year, he was caught committing a burglary of a dwelling in Crown Road, Kidlington where he stole a laptop and a radio worth £1,800.

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Mr Jones said: “He understands he’s to be sentenced for a number of offences committed around the term of the year. He’s a third-strike burglar.”

Since being on remand in April, the court heard that Peter has been self-detoxing from drug use.

Andy Burford, from the Oxfordshire drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity Turning Point, told the court: “Since remand, he was offered opioid therapy to help with maintaining abstinence but he decided to self-detox.

“The weekly screenings at HMP Bullingdon have been negative for Class A and Class B substances. In addition to this, he’s completed all the paper for the Oxford rehabilitation project and we’re very impressed with his efforts.”

When asked by Judge Pringle what his plans are after the programme, Peter said he hopes to enrol in college and become a service worker.

“This [programme] is quite intense,” he said. “So I’ve just got to give it my all. They provide after care and I’m aware I need that.”

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He added that he does not plan to return to Oxfordshire.

Judge Pringle agreed to hand Peter a community order to complete the drug rehabilitation programme which he was transported to from prison straight after his sentencing.

A written report on his progress has been requested by the court by October 14.