A THIEF who breached a suspended jail sentence by committing fresh offences while out on bail has been jailed for 10 months.

Alex Bird stole a man's wallet from Stockton library on September 29 this year, five days after being given a suspended prison sentence for an attempted burglary.

The 19-year-old was charged and bailed, but on November 10, while living in a hostel he stole a television set-top box, worth £12, selling it to a second-hand store for £5.

Bird, whose offending began aged 13, admitted at Teesside Crown Court two counts of theft and also failing to surrender to police bail.

Andrew Turton, mitigating said Bird had asked to be taken into care by the local authority because of his family situation.

“Instability has followed him since and it is not surprising these offences have followed,” he said.

The barrister described Bird, of Meadowgate, Eston, east Cleveland, as a young man with a chequered history.

He said that although his position seemed bleak, a deferred sentence imposed on him would give him a chance to “make good” and improve his outlook.

However Judge Peter Bowers said he could not overlook the breaches and jailed him for the ten months.