Student Burglar Failed Fingerprint Test

L - Lewis-Hill & R - Vista Finance

A Walsall student, who left his fingerprints on glass he smashed during an office burglary, has escaped prison with a suspended sentence after police tracked him down.

Tyrel Lewis-Hill, 21, of Sandwell House, Sandwell Street, Coldmore snatched a £1,000 Apple laptop computer, which has never been found.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to burgling Vista Finance, 15-17 Church Road, Crystal Palace on August 23, last year.

The court heard maths student Lewis-Hill, who has previous convictions for possessing drugs and theft from a dwelling was arrested on December 15.

“He has never served a custodial sentence, but he is getting very, very near it,” announced the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon.

“This is quite a serious burglary, quite a valuable computer was taken and never recovered.

“Put this behind you,” the judge told Lewis-Hill. “You draw a line under it and get on with your studies and lead an industrious law-abiding life.

“One slip and you will be inside a custodial institution doing time.”

Lewis-Hill was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to comply with an electronically monitored night time curfew from 9pm to 6am.