A Southampton man has been convicted of burglary and public order offences following a series of incidents across the Eastleigh district between November and December last year.

It comes after officers carried out an investigation into a burglary at an address on Toynbee Road in Eastleigh on 19 November – when a woman’s purse was reportedly stolen. He was detained by officers and upon searching him located a quantity of Class A drugs.

Liam Thomas Wall, aged 29, of Church Street in Southampton was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of a Class A drug and a public order offence.

Southampton Magistrates Court then heard how Wall was also seen to enter an ‘Up and Running’ store on Winchester Road in the early hours of 20 December, before being arrested and charged with burglary offences.

At the same court on Wednesday 2 February, Liam Thomas Wall was convicted and given a 5-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

In addition, he was ordered to attend a 12-months drug rehabilitation programme as well as a ‘thinking skills’ programme and pay £156 to his victims in compensation.

Eastleigh District Commander, Chief Inspector Marcus Cator, said: “While we appreciate that the local community may feel let down by the outcome in this instance, please be assured that our local neighbourhood policing team and police staff investigators put forward a strong case and recommendations for a custodial sentence to the courts with the Crown Prosecution Service.

“However, we are hopeful that Liam Wall will now receive the relevant support by local commissioned services to rehabilitate him, educate him and work with him to ensure that he does not commit further offences in the future.

“Our officers and police investigators will always seek to bring those to justice for the crimes that they have committed, supported by the recommended outcomes of the Court.”