Judge regrets giving Newcastle serial burglar a chance after he terrified mum and son within days (opens original article in a new tab)

A serial burglar who received a deferred sentence for previous offenses broke into a mother's home in Newcastle within weeks, leading the judge to express regret for not incarcerating him.

• Kieron Hardy, a serial burglar with 70 convictions, broke into a mother's home in Newcastle two weeks after receiving a deferred sentence.
• The judge expressed regret for giving Hardy a chance, stating he would not have committed the burglary if incarcerated.
• Hardy stole £300 from the woman's home and caused significant distress to her and her son, who experienced nightmares after the incident.