South Yorkshire burglar’s excuse was a "very unlikely story"

A South Yorkshire burglar’s excuse for missing a probation appointment was described by a Sheffield judge as a "very unlikely story."
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Acer Barrass, 25, of Thorne Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to a non-dwelling burglary, when he appeared at Doncaster Magistrates Court, on December 3.

His barrister, Ian Mullarkey, told Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday that Barrass has no previous record of burglary.

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He said Barrass claimed never to have received a letter from the probation service offering him an appointment before he was sentenced, and that it may have been lost because his mother was having renovations done at the time.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.
Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court.

Recorder Ian Harris adjourned sentencing until February 2, 2021, on condition Barrass lives at his mother’s address and cooperates with the probation service.

But he added that he was "unimpressed."

He told the defendant: "It's a very unlikely story. Even if there was a grain of truth in it, there was nothing stopping you from ringing the probation service."

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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