TEENAGER Jason Cooper, 19, has been remanded in custody after admitting breaking into a Devizes house.

Cooper, of Forty Acres Road, Devizes, was appearing at Swindon Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for the burglary in London Road.

But the court adjourned the case to consider a possible curfew order. Cooper was remanded in custody.

Cooper and an accomplice broke into Mirfield House, London Road, on July 23 and stole household goods.

But the teenager also stole a £49.99 DVD player from the Virgin Megastore on May 8 and assaulted PC Paul Whitbread on January 2.

Ramin Pakrooh, defending, said when Cooper was spoken to by the Probation Service it was felt that his mum's address was not suitable for him to live under a curfew order.

He said: "The curfew order does not appear to have been investigated fully because of difficulties between the services and Mr Cooper.

"I have spoken to his mother; her address is available to him. There was a suggestion about his stepfather but both are happy to have him."

He said that while Cooper had committed a house burglary it was not the most serious of its kind and may not necessarily mean he goes to prison.

Although he said Cooper had a number of previous convictions and did not have a good history of carrying out community orders, he had shown in the past that he could complete a curfew order.

"He is someone who has found custody a very difficult experience."

Adjourning the matter, Judge Charles Wade told Cooper that even if he is deemed suitable for a curfew order he may still get a prison term.

He told the defendant "I will grant an adjournment as requested but I do so with some hesitation.

"This appears to be a case leading towards custody for serious offences and this may still be the ultimate outcome. This defendant should have all the possible options explored by probation. It does appear in the report that there are some matters that could be reasonably explored further.

"I am not promising what the outcome of this case is going to be.

"You understand custody is the first option but may not be the only option."