Schools raider is spared prison

A burglar who repeatedly broke into two Oldham schools within the space of a week has been spared jail — so he can get help for his alcohol and drug problems.

Philip Sharp (25), burgled Hathershaw College to steal a projector then broke into Stanley Road Primary School, Chadderton three times to steal computers.

He was caught because he left blood at the scene of his crimes when he cut himself smashing windows to get into the premises.

It emerged Sharp had tried and failed twice in six days to take a PC from Stanley Road Primary School only to find it screwed down to a desk.

He then return a third time and used a hacksaw to free it. Desks were damaged during the raids.

Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester was told Sharp, of Ninth Avenue, Oldham, abused both alcohol and drugs and carried out the burglaries because he had financial difficulties. He had previous convictions for burglary and possessing cannabis.

Sharp admitted four charges of burglary but was given 10 months prison suspended for two years coupled with a supervision order with a condition that he attends a programme which tackles substance-related offending.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

Passing sentence Judge Andrew Lowock told him: “You broke into two schools, one three times and the other once to steal equipment. It is not just the damage you caused but the great inconvenience to the staff and pupils.”

The judge said a jail term was justified but he decided to suspended it because a prison sentence would not help Sharp deal with his alcohol and drug issues. He said it could lead to him reoffending again.

Defence counsel Mr Jamie Hamilton said the burglaries occurred after Sharp had split up with his girl friend and had his state benefits stopped.

He added: “He was struggling to cope financially without the support of his former partner and he needed to plug the financial gap. All this was coupled with his misuse of alcohol.”