Police welcome Essex prolific burglar sentence

A prolific teenage burglar, thought to be one of the worst offenders in the country, has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Last year Judge Christopher Ball spared Bradley Wernham, 19, a jail sentence after he admitted more than 600 offences in Essex.

Instead he was given a rent-free flat and ordered to carry out unpaid work after promising to change his ways.

But Chelmsford Crown Court heard he tried to burgle another house months later.

Chief Insp Glenn Maleary welcomed the custodial sentence given to Brandley Wernham and defended the use of community-based punishments.