Pub burglar banned from going out at night
BBCA crack cocaine addict who stole £700 worth of alcohol from a pub has been banned from going out at night.
James Gamble, 51, and an accomplice broke into and ransacked the North Terrace in Newcastle in July, the city's crown court heard.
The pub's landlord said it was the fourth burglary within a five-month period and the constant crime was having a significant toll on both his finances and mental health.
Gamble admitted burglary and was made the subject of a community order with strict drug rehabilitation requirements and a four-month curfew.
The men smashed their way into the pub on Claremont Road at about 04:30 BST on 22 July, the court heard.
They took 21 bottles of spirits, valued at about £700, and caused damage estimated at about £300, prosecutors said.
'Unenviable criminal record'
Gamble, who had a long history of criminal offending, was quickly recognised on CCTV by police and arrested less than two hours later.
In a statement read to the court, the landlord said the regular break-ins were "damaging" his business and he had to spend a lot of money on repairs and installing improved security systems.
He said it was impacting his mental health and he could "not seem to catch a break".
In mitigation, Rachel Hedworth said Gamble had an "unenviable" criminal record which stemmed from his substance misuse.
She said he was "extremely sorry" for the harm he had caused to the publican.
Judge Julie Clemitson said Gamble, of Ellesmere Road, Newcastle, would be given a chance to get clean of drugs but failure to comply would see him jailed.
He will have to attend a drug rehabilitation course for nine months, with regular tests and face-to-face meetings with the judge, and abide by a curfew for four months from 19:00 to 07:00.