The landlord of a house burgled by a hapless thief who got stuck in a window said the community order handed down by JPs wasn't worth the paper on which it was written.

Bungling Frederick Moulton, who has a lengthy record for theft, was forced to call 999 on himself in the early hours on Thursday after getting stuck trying to break into a flat on Groundwell Road.

He was given an 18-month community order by Swindon magistrates yesterday - and ordered to do a thinking skills course.

Tim Maslin, 37, who owns the burgled building, criticised the sentence. “He’s a career criminal, he’s committed number of offences.

“It’s not going to rehabilitate him, it’s not going to change his ways. He should have been banged up.

“Police have done their job. They’ve caught him in the act. He’s pleaded guilty, because he didn’t have much choice. But once again the magistrates decide to let him off.

“The community order’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”

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Frederick Moulton Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard Moulton had been looking for something to sell on in order to clear an amphetamines debt.

A sock left in the Groundwell Road flat, which was being refurbished, was the only indication of his presence in the property.

But the 53-year-old ended up having to call the fire brigade after his leg got stuck in a window and he was left dangling outside the house.

Prosecutor Kate Prince said police were called by firefighters at around 12.30am on Thursday morning after it became clear Moulton should not have been at the house – let alone stuck in the window.

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The Groundwell Road house burgled by Moulton Picture: ADVER PHOTOGRAPHER

The downstairs flat was being completely refurbished and, as a result, there were few items inside. Nothing was taken.

He admitted to police he had been out and about in the early hours, spotted scaffolding outside the house, noticed a window was slightly ajar and tried to climb through it.

In interview, he said his intention was to find things to steal in order to raise funds.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court via video link from Gablecross police station, wheelchair-bound Moulton, of Booth House, Spring Close, admitted burglary and possession of class B drug amphetamine.

Mark Glendenning, defending, acknowledged his client had a long-standing record for burglary – but it was largely of commercial premises. He had a conviction for a dwelling burglary last year in similar circumstances, with the home unoccupied at the time.

During the lockdown the amphetamine user had suffered difficulties getting his benefits and had amassed debts to his drug dealer. “Pressure is being brought to bear to make payment,” the solicitor said.

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He had made full admissions in interview and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Moulton’s long record for burglary includes breaking into the Pepe Piri Piri chicken takeaway in Regent Circus and the Moonrakers pub last year. He was on post-sentence supervision when he committed the latest break-in.

Handing the thief an 18 month community order, chairman of the bench Natalie O’Connell said: “It’s obvious from your previous convictions you are very familiar with the court proceedings and from this offence you’ve heard it was an empty property. You got stuck climbing out of the window.

“You’re on post-sentence supervision, you’re now 53-years-old. You don’t need me to tell you that you need to work with probation and look at the way you live in the community.”

Under the terms of his order, Moulton must complete a thinking skills programme, up to 10 rehabilitation activity sessions and pay £180 in costs and surcharge.