A JUDGE has told a former Grimsby man he will "lock him up" if they cross paths again, after the burglar narrowly evaded a prison sentence.
Zavan Johnson, 31, formerly of Albion Street, appeared at Grimsby Crown Court charged with burglary, failing to surrender to custody, fraud, two counts of possessing cannabis and two counts of handling stolen goods.
Johnson was arrested in February this year after he broke into a house in Albion Street and stole a television, mobile phone and handbag, before selling the phone to a second-hand shop for just £10.
Police arrested him and discovered a stolen laptop and cannabis and subsequent analysis of Johnson's phone showed him to be dealing in drugs.
Johnson, who has previous convictions for criminal damage in the 1990s and a driving offence in 2004, had also failed to turn up for court after being charged with shoplifting in June this year.
Defending, Andrew Bailey, told the court Johnson had "turned over a new leaf" having moved to Nottinghamshire.
Judge David Tremberg said it was a "curious case" that Johnson, now of Sutton, in Ashfield, was in court after he had demonstrated a capacity to stay out of trouble for much of his adult life.
He described Johnson as a "low level dealer" but told him the cannabis charge could have been serious enough to land him with a prison sentence.
Offering Johnson an order of unpaid work, Judge Tremberg said: "If you don't agree it is not a problem, I will lock you up today.
"If we meet again I will have no problem in locking you up, no excuses."
The judge handed down an order of 200 hours of unpaid work, with no penalty for failing to surrender after having spent a month in custody prior to the sentencing.
"I am hoping the experience of having to do the work will get you back into the routine of living an organised life," the judge said.
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