24/03/2010

Prolific Criminal Sentenced

A 19-year-old from St Albans has been jailed for failing to meet the terms of a rehabilitation programme.

Stefan Jakeman, of Green Lane, had been released on bail at court to be assessed for the forward thinking Choices and Consequences (C2) programme, but ultimately, was not accepted onto it.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment on Monday.

"The C2 programme is not an easy option – it is intensive and hard work," said Detective Inspector Stuart Campfield, who runs the programme.

"Jakeman, who had stated his commitment to it, failed to maintain it when given the opportunity to do so.

"He couldn’t show that he would take advantage of the opportunities it has to offer. He missed appointments with support agencies and breached the conditions of his bail. As a result, he now has to serve his custodial sentence."

Jakeman asked for 377 offences to be taken into consideration – even though 180 (mostly garage burglaries) had not been reported to police.

DI Campfield said: "As a result of C2, he has told us about dozens of offences - the majority thefts from motor vehicles and garage burglaries, which may otherwise have remained undetected.

"And for his more serious crimes, including domestic burglaries, we have been able to reassure the victims that we have the person responsible."

The candidates for C2 are prolific, non-violent acquisitive criminals generally with some form of addiction, which drives their criminality - this programme looks to break this cycle of offending.

(PR/GK)

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