A prolific Bath burglar started his life of crime when, as a young boy, he was posted through a cat flap and asked to raid people's homes.
Jamie Skipp's criminal record started at the tender age of 12 and, 17 years later, he found himself in front of Bristol Crown Court for the latest time.
Mitigating, Nicholas Wragg told the court that when his client was young, a relative would "post" him through cat flaps, Skipp would squeeze inside, steal what he could from a home before giving it to the older man.
But, despite the heroin addict admitting three burglaries and four shop-lifting offences, Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC took an "exceptional course" and spared him what would normally have been a mandatory minimum prison sentence, starting at three years.
Instead of jailing him, which is the case for burglars with at least three convictions unless there are exceptional circumstances - the judge imposed a two-year community order with supervision from the probation service and drug rehabilitation.
Skipp, 29, of no fixed abode, admitted breaking into a house in Bath on February 4 and stealing camera equipment and £4,000 worth of jewellery. Having smashed a pane of glass to get in, he was identified through a blood stain left on an internal wall.
Skipp also asked the judge to take into consideration two other burglaries, the first of which was on Wedmore Paark, Bath, in March, when nothing was stolen. The second took place on Albany Road in the city when Skipp stole a TV worth £400.
Prosecuting, Kirsty Real said that the victim - a single mum - stayed away from her house for a month through fear and, having moved back in, now leaves the lights on for her peace of mind.
Skipp also admitted four thefts of meat to a total value of £205, from four Co-operative stores.
Going through his previous convictions, the court heard his first for burglary was at 12 years old and the last dwelling burglary conviction was 2005.
A long-term drug addict now on a methadone prescription, he was given the chance of a drug rehabilitation order in 2009 but breached it.
The court also heard that Skipp has been subjected to a horrific assault at the hands of four men while being remanded in custody for the latest offences.
In a pre-sentence report, the Probation Service said he should be sentenced in the community and given the help he needs in an attempt to turn his life around, and Judge Mercer agreed.
He said: "I have read the pre-sentence report, which is a very powerful plea for me to take an exceptional course. People have been working very hard to help him."
But he also said: "The defendant causes huge distress to decent people."
By Daniel Evans
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