A TEENAGE house burglar who raided property worth £2,000 from three Bradford homes has been given a suspended sentence and told by a judge to "put this blip behind you and get on with your life".

Subhan Akbar, of Coates Street, Little Horton, Bradford, was 17 when he embarked on the offending spree in July and August 2019.

He pleaded guilty to burgling two homes in Haslam Close, Barkerend, Bradford, on July 30 and August 25, 2019, and burgling an address in Brookfield Road, Bowling, Bradford, on August 19, 2019.

Last November, Judge Colin Burn deferred Akbar's sentence for six months and said if Akbar kept out of trouble, carried on with his motor mechanics course at college, looked for work and proved he had given up cannabis, he would be given a suspended custodial sentence.

Now 19 and back in Bradford Crown Court for his deferred sentence hearing, Judge Burn heard about Akbar's activities over the past few months.

The court was told that Akbar had completed his mechanics course and was currently employed at Speedibake.

He has been attending drug rehabilitation charity The Bridge Project and the court was told how Akbar had stopped using cannabis since January of this year.

"This was a voluntary agreement," said Judge Burn. "You've been taking your requirements seriously."

But he also warned Akbar, saying: "If you go back to using cannabis and commit other offences, there will be consequences.

"When you last came before this court, I did tell you that you needed to fulfill a number of tasks to demonstrate a low risk of offending in the future.

"To suspend a sentence of imprisonment, there has to be a good prospect of living a good life and not to offend in the future. You've fulfilled your side of the bargain.

"In a category one burglary, your involvement was lesser in the group, but the starting point for a prison sentence would have been three years. But it's crucial you made a guilty plea and that sentence would be reduced to 21 months, but I'm going to suspend this for two years.

"If you get back into using cannabis or get involved in criminal activity, that 21 month sentence could be activated in addition to anything on top of a new offence.

"You're in work and looking for work as a mechanic. You will also have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work to fit around your paid work, and you'll have to make sure you do that within 18 months. If you don't do it, you could be brought back here."

Judge Burn then told Akbar: "The ball is back in your court. Your future in is your hands.

"Put this blip behind you and get on with your life."

The prosecution also recommended that Akbar pay £2,045 in compensation for stolen property from the three sets of victims.

However, Judge Burn said: "He's not exactly being paid a handsome amount, so I don't think it's practical to administer such an order in this case."

In closing, Judge Burn added: "Make sure you don't come back to court, certainly not as a defendant."