Burglar told: "Make your bed or go to prison"

A JUDGE told a teenage burglar to make his bed, do the washing up and respect his parents – if he wants to stay out of prison.

Judge David Ticehurst told Jamie Froom, 18, he had to do more household chores – and invited his mum to tell the court if he failed to help.

Bristol Crown Court heard Froom, who admitted two daytime break-ins, had left home after rowing with his parents, but was allowed to return.

The judge, who ordered him to do 120 hours unpaid work and six months of drug rehabilitation, told him: "You can make your bed every day, do the washing up and respect your mum and dad."

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Froom, 18, of Junction Way, Mangotsfield, who pleaded guilty to two burglaries, agreed with the terms and was told prison awaited if he messed up.

Nicholas Fridd, prosecuting, said that two burglaries had occurred in April – the first at a home in The Greenway, Hillfields and the second at a home in nearby Clarence Road.

Mr Fridd said the owner of the first house left it locked, but returned to find property stolen and people fleeing the scene,

The court heard that, in a raid on the second house, three teenagers carrying stolen goods were caught as they fled.

Mr Fridd told the court: "All property was recovered, which included computer equipment, euros and a ring."

Two youths aged 15 and 16 at the time pleaded guilty to their involvement and were sent to be dealt with at the youth court.

Froom's fingerprints were found inside the first home but he made no comment when interviewed by police.

The court heard both younger boys had previous convictions but Froom had none.

Froom's mother Melanie, 35, a home carer, told The Post: "I thought what the judge said was good.

"I quite appreciated it. I felt the judge was on my side."

Anjali Gohil, defending, urged the judge to consider the case as one of lesser harm and lower culpability.

She said: "The offences were on impulse and there was limited intrusion into the properties.

"These were daytime burglaries of unoccupied dwellings.

"Mr Froom gave an early guilty plea and no basis was offered. He accepted the prosecution case."

Miss Gohil said that her client was deemed as a low risk of re-conviction and suggested the judge follow the recommended community order, with special regard to addressing Froom's cannabis use.