A BURGLAR targeted by other criminals during a spell on remand in prison tried to hang himself in his cell, a court heard.

But Lee Campbell, 22, was sent back to prison for nine months after a judge told him non-custodial sentences didn't seem to have made him change his "evil ways."

Judge Ian Webster, sitting with two justices, who had read a letter from the defendant, said only custody could be justified.

Campbell, of Ball Street, Nelson, had been sent for sentence after admitting burglary before Burnley magistrates.

Campbell committed the offence while the subject of a two-year probation order, imposed for burglary of an unoccupied house.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, told Burnley Crown Court that Campbell broke into the house, whose owner had gone away overnight by throwing a brick through the rear kitchen window. He helped himself to a hi-fi system, worth £360.

He told police he had sold it for £100 to clear a drugs debt. Police recovered the stereo system.

Tony Cross, defending, said Campbell accepted he must go to custody. The purpose of mitigation was the length of the sentence.

The defendant was plainly having a very difficult time in prison. He had been cut from a rope whilst trying to hang himself in his cell.

Campbell was the target of others in prison and was a vulnerable sort of person. Any prison sentence was going to be an arduous one for him. He should get credit for admitting things to police.

Mr Cross added the defendant was remorseful for his actions. A short sentence of imprisonment, as he was going to custody for the first time, would suffice.

He went on: "He has never had custody before. Clearly, with the rest of the probation order that remains, it will hopefully serve this man well."

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