A MAN who stole more than £4,000 worth of items from a church on his birthday has avoided jail and been placed on a curfew.
Richard Johnson has been sentenced for burglary at Worcester Crown Court.
The 44-year-old went to Upton Baptist Church on February 2, 2020 - his birthday - and stole electrical and food items worth more than £4,500.
Johnson, who had 13 previous convictions, was facing more than a year in prison for the offence so the case was sent to the higher court as magistrates had felt it was outside their sentencing powers.
Johnson had a lucky escape as he avoided jail when he was sentenced at the court on Wednesday (November 2).
Johnson was given a community order for two years.
As part of the order, he was given a four-month curfew, in place between 8pm and 5am every night.
Johnson was told to do 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an accredited thinking skills programme.
Johnson was also ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge.
During the burglary, Johnson had stolen from the community fridge scheme based in the chapel of the church.
Residents are invited to put in any surplus quality food they have which would otherwise be wasted.
After the break-in, Reverend Amy Wearing, minister at the church in Old Road, Upton-Upon-Severn, said: "It's not the nicest thing to have happened but what I've seen after the break-in is a community coming together.
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"I've had offers from people wanting to give me items or loan them to the church."
Town councillor Andrea Morgan also said at the time: "I'm saddened to learn of the break-in.
"The church and the community fridge do such a fantastic job.
"The amount of food they prevent being wasted is unbelievable."
At a previous hearing of the case Judge James Burbidge KC said because of his previous convictions, Johnson would be familiar with the process of the courts telling him "you have experience of the criminal justice system - almost as much as I have".
"It is a shame to admit," Johnson replied.
"Change your attitude," the judge said.
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