A BURGLAR, described by his own solicitor as “immature”, has narrowly avoided a prison sentence, but has been warned that jail is inevitable if his behaviour does not change.

Baby-faced Lee William Moore, 18, pleaded guilty to stealing a woman’s handbag from her house in an “opportunistic” burglary.

Magistrates in St Helens handed him a four month custodial sentence, suspended for a year.

Moore, of Chamberlain Street, Newtown, had entered the house on Park Street, Haydock, in January and took a leather handbag, while the woman was in the garden smoking a cigarette.

Prosecutor Angela Blackmore said that by chance, the woman’s sister had been walking her dog in Sankey Valley and saw a man emptying the contents of a bag into the water. Although she didn’t realise at the time it belonged to her sister.

He was also seen by another eye-witness.

Following his arrest he initially denied any involvement, but admitted the crime after he was positively identified. He also tested positive for cocaine, when he was arrested.

Miss Blackmore said his previous record includes offences of dishonesty and theft, which he committed as a youth. His one conviction as an adult resulted in a community order for the theft of a bike.

Moore’s solicitor Patrick Heald said that if jailed, his life would be made very difficult. Describing the theft as “clearly opportunistic”, he added: “During the normal course of events, he would be looking at the inevitability of a prison sentence. I have dealt with a lot of defendants, but never an 18-year-old man who presents himself as young and immature as this one.

“His mother is doing everything she can to provide support. He has enrolled at college and is doing pretty well. And a friend of the family has offered him some work.

“But I have given him some blunt advice. If he is back this way again, he will have a difficult introduction to a prison environment. He will be facing at least two years. And if you look at him and the sort of individual he is, that’s a sword of Damocles hanging over him. He has to motivate himself to stay out of trouble.”

Moore was also placed under a 12 month supervision order and will be electronically tagged for four months. He was also fined £215.