Lincoln burglar avoids jail after showing efforts to go straight

A burglar who went straight after being given a chance by a judge has been rewarded with a suspended jail sentence.

Lincoln Crown Court was told Neil McMillan had stayed out of trouble and has been making progress since his court appearance in September.

Jonathon Dee, defending, said McMillan had reassessed his life during the interim period.

"He is seeking to get himself out of his alcohol dependency," he said.

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"He appears healthy and positive. He has been playing football. He is getting fit and he is due to start work.

"He tells me he is motivated to change."

McMillan, 28, of Bawtry Close, Birchwood, Lincoln, admitted burglary with intent to steal and attempted burglary on June 15 last year at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted a £3,000 fraud after money was removed electronically from a bank account.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The earlier hearing was told McMillan was arrested inside the Birchwood Sure Start building after a police dog was set on him.

He set off an intruder alarm alerting police after breaking into the premises during the early hours of the morning.

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting said officers arrived at the premises with a dog and McMillan was ordered to come out.

Mr Kemp said: "He didn't. The dog was sent in and found the defendant hiding underneath a desk."

Nothing was stolen but a window was smashed when McMillan entered the premises.

Mr Kemp said that only minutes earlier McMillan tried to smash his way into Oakwood Stores, Birchwood.

He threw a brick at the door and then tried to pick up a paving slab before a neighbour interrupted him and he walked away.