THE 'naive' lookout in a claw hammer burglary has appeared in court again, this time for receiving a stolen car and driving off without paying for fuel.

Convicted burglar Paul Butler appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday, less than a month after he received a suspended sentence for a house raid following a hearing at the city's crown court.

The 21-year-old of Smite Caravan Park, Pershore Lane, Hindlip, near Worcester admitting receiving a stolen Toyota Verso, making off without payment at a petrol station and using a car without insurance.

Butler is subject to a suspended sentence order made at Worcester Crown Court last month for burglary although these offences predate the imposition of that sentence.

Butler was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work at the crown court on Thursday, March 28.

This followed a burglary in Haselor Lane, near Evesham on September 4 last year also involving a third strike’ burglar John Neate who brandished a claw hammer and a third man who has not been caught.

The same house was burgled on August 22 last year when a shotgun cabinet and six shotguns were stolen.

During the September burglary three passports, three savings books and £500 in cash was stolen. Butler and Neate admitted the second burglary but there was no evidence to link them to the first.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said the car was stolen from Daryl Horton as he was filling up his car in Stow-on-the-Wold on March 17 this year.

"He did not see it but heard the car revving as it was driven off" said Miss Ritchie.

Officers saw the car again in Worcester Road, Droitwich two days later. Butler had filled the car up with £20 worth of fuel at Euro Garages in Droitwich but drove off without paying for it.

When Butler saw police officers four males including the defendant ran from the car, climbing over the fence into a field.

"Three of the four males were arrested. One of those males was Mr Butler" said Miss Ritchie.

The stolen car was recovered.

Judith Kenney, for Butler, said breach proceedings were already underway, beginning on April 8, over Butler's lack of compliance with the suspended sentence order.

Miss Kenney said the judge had 'given him an opportunity to maintain his freedom'.

She said of Butler: "He's incredibly naive. He has £1,900 of fines outstanding and he's desperate to try and pay those off."

Miss Kenney said of the burglary: "He was the lookout in this burglary. It was acknowledged he was led astray. He's got a huge record, this co-defendant."

She said her client would be recalled to crown court because of the breach proceedings. "If he messes it up a custodial sentence will be implemented" she said.

District judge Nigel Cadbury committed the offences to be dealt with at Worcester Crown Court on May 16, granting Butler unconditional bail until that hearing.

He told the defendant: "It's important that you're dealt with for these matters at the same time."

The next hearing is scheduled to take place at Worcester Crown Court at 10am.