Ex-worker gave burglar a guide

Oxford Crown Court heard that Daniel Arthurs, of Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, had been the assistant manager of Thorntons Cafe in the Westgate Centre.

But two months after he left it was burgled by someone who had detailed instructions of how to get in.

The theft was discovered by a staff member who arrived at work one morning last November to find lights switched on and a note with detailed instructions of how to find the cafe, gain entry and locate the safe.

When police arrested Arthurs they found £800 in his pocket.

The court heard the 20-year-old, who had no previous convictions, had still not revealed the identity of the man who carried out the £5,579.75 theft because he feared reprisals on himself, his mother and two sisters.

Tony McGeorge, prosecuting, said Arthurs had originally pleaded not guilty when he appeared at court earlier this year charged with burglary, but later changed his plea.

Terence Woods, defending, said Arthurs did not think "grassing up" his accomplice was a risk worth taking and explained what a difficult upbringing he had endured.

Judge Christopher Compston spared Arthurs jail and offered him another chance to get his life back on track.

He deferred sentence for six months but ordered Arthurs to get a job and to have made firm plans for the future by the time he next appeared in court.

The judge said: "This is a sad tale, but a very serious crime.

"The tragedy is that here is an intelligent young man who should have gone to university.

"I must make it quite clear I don't often defer sentence. It's not a let off, it's a sort of probation.

"What you did was disgraceful, there is no question about that, but I don't see why you should waste yourself because you've had a poor start in life.

"But if you have gone on the rocks it may be that you go to prison."

The judge reserved the case so he could see for himself the plans Arthurs has made when he appears in court in October.