A BURGLAR who didn't turn up to do his community service has been sent to jail for 15 months.

Alistair Johnson was put on a 200-hour community service order in March after he admitted taking part in a break-in at a house.

But Swindon Crown Court heard the 20-year-old roofer joined another man who had broken into a house, where children were asleep upstairs, in the early hours of the morning.

Jailing him Judge Tom Longbotham said: "Well, you were given a chance in March weren't you?

"You obviously, it seems, had no intention of taking the chance that was given to you."

Mark Ashley, prosecuting, told the court "The position was that Mr Johnson it seems was outside of the property.

"He saw a friend carrying things out. He joined in to assist him.

"He carried a TV and video out."

He said that Johnson had also admitted the attempted theft of a radio cassette which he tried to take from a car which had already had its window broken.

The court was told that since being put on the community service order Johnson, of Stonesfield Close, Eastleaze, had also been convicted of drink driving, driving with no insurance or a licence as well as possession of cannabis.

Rob Ross, defending, said: "It is apparent he doesn't want to involve himself in the community service order imposed on the first occasion.

"There is little I can say on his behalf to mitigate his behaviour."