You Could Give Him Fifteen Years, He Still Won't Learn...

The court heard how Ham needed money last year to buy drugs, when he first broke into the home of a 90-year-old victim. On November 17, he entered the pensioner's bungalow during the night, while she slept. He then carried out an "untidy" search of her bedroom, before emptying the contents of her handbag, leaving the mess across the room.

Then, after a period of non-offending, Ham needed more cash for presents for his child's birthday, and raided two stores in Hythe and Thornhill, but ended up with "not much at all", despite causing £76,000 worth of damage to the Hythe One Stop with the raid and commercial loss.

This lack of swag is considered mitigation, unbelievably!

Mitigating, defence barrister Richard Onslow said: "He ended up taking part in these escapades, and got some of the takings, which was really, not much at all."

*gobsmacked*

Presiding, judge Christopher Parker said that Ham's crimes were "foolish", despite hearing of Ham's troubled childhood. He told the court: "You have had a difficult start in life, but these crimes are foolish.

"There is a significant period of non offending between December and April, but then you find yourself in these positions of causing damage to these stores, resulting up to more than £70,000 worth of damage, plus commercial loss of course.

"You have to learn, and you will have time to think on that."

How much time?

Ham was given five years and ten months in prison.

Even if he were to serve all that - and we know he won't - I doubt it'd make a difference...