A BURGLAR whose life of crime began at the age of 11 was given a second chance yesterday after a court heard he had found employment.

Wayne Hullah, 29, first came before a court in 1984 and from then until 1996 had "a most unenviable record", his solicitor, Geoffrey Rogers, told Harrogate magistrates.

But between 1996 and his present appearance - for three burglaries - he had only two convictions, one for assault and the other for criminal damage.

The reason, said Mr Rogers, was that Hullah had been working from 1996 until last October.

But within a week of losing his job he had broken into a hair care company's premises, and then a dental surgery in King's Road.

Neighbours who had spott-ed him climbing a drainpipe alerted police, who found him hiding in nearby undergrowth.

Hullah, of Grove Park Terrace, Harrogate, was then arr-ested again, this time by a man who recognised him as he kept watch outside the garage of a house in Hilltop Avenue in the town.

When another man fled the scene, Hullah was subdued by a neighbour after a struggle.

Hullah pleaded guilty to three burglaries.

His solicitor said sending him to prison would cost him his home and the job he was due to start on Monday with a roofing contractor.

The court heard that he had gone looking for money or something to sell after debts began to mount because he was living on benefits. Hullah had previously been earning £200 a week.

The presiding magistrate, Mike Garnett, placed Hullah on probation for a year, and ordering him to pay £55 costs plus £343.69 compensation for damage caused to the premises during the burglaries.