Burglar who stole £13,000 of laptops walks free after judge cites prison overcrowding

Serial burglar Luke Handley, 41, avoids jail for £13,000 laptop raid despite an appalling record of more than 53 previous crimes as judge cites the prison overcrowding crisis

A serial burglar who wheeled £13,000 worth of laptops out of an office in a suitcase has walked free after a judge took into account prison overcrowding.

Luke Handley, 41, has an appalling record after carrying out at least 53 burglaries but insists he has turned his life around. Handley stole 12 laptops and an iPad from the fourth floor of an office block in Great Titchfield Street, central London, on June 12, 2023, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales said she had to "bear in mind prison overcrowding" when she sentenced Handley to 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 days of wearing an electronic tag. It comes after the number of inmates being held hit a record high last month amid the jail overcrowding crisis.

About 1,750 prisoners were freed early a few days later in an effort to free up space. Before he was sentenced, Handley read out an emotional letter to the judge and said he now wants to work as a barber.

"I would like to apologise for my selfish behaviour, and I would like to apologise for my past offending, I am sorry. I have been cutting hair to make a living in prison and will continue when I am released, I want to open my own barbershop and believe that I could do so."

Prosecutor Sophia Baig said: "On June 12, 2023, the defendant attended Elsey Court a building which contains several offices. Shortly after he leaves with a suitcase.

"Nicola Sheila, HR director for one of the firms in the building made a statement confirming that the defendant had accessed the office and had stolen 12 laptops and one ipad, with a total value around £13,000. The firm has suffered a loss in time and money to replace the stolen laptops and a client's work was delayed."

Handley was arrested the following day by a security manager after returning to the building wearing the same clothes. Judge Hales said given Handley's previous convictions she would usually impose a custodial sentence.

But given overcrowding in prisons, the time he had already served and his moving plea, she was persuaded otherwise. Judge Hales said: "You have told me of your ambition to pursue a career as a barber, that seems to be a long held ambition which has not yet got off the ground.

"If you are not given help and guidance I have no doubt that it is incredibly likely that you will reoffend, in fact I believe it is almost inevitable.

"If you are able to pursue that career as a barber it may be that you can change, and that you want to I will also bear in mind the prison overcrowding, in the circumstances, and given the time you have already served, I am going to adopt the recommendations of the pre-sentencing report, rather than impose a custodial sentence."

Handley, of Croydon, south London, was sentenced to a community order for two years with 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 days wearing an electronic tag.

"I don't want to see you again" said Judge Hales.

He insisted he has work available at a small barbershop in Croydon.