A CONVICTED burglar has been spared jail by magistrates after he admitted breaching a community punishment order.
Paul Evers, 29, of Ruskin Road, Darlington, was issued with the order in May, for burglary, theft and obtaining property by deception.
He had completed more than half the time, but then failed to attend appointments in September and October.
Evers appeared at South Durham Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said Evers could still make a valuable contribution to society and was not a violent man and did not pose any danger to the public.
He said Evers had taken on more childcare responsibilities, which had made him miss appointments.
Chairwoman of the bench, Margaret Cunningham, said: "We take a very dim view of failing to complete orders, when you first came in today we were thinking about sending you to prison.
"We will revoke the existing order and impose a new 100-hour community punishment order, which you will complete.
"There will be no more excuses, you have run out of time."
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