A REFORMED criminal, who dodged prison for two years, has been given half the jail sentence he should have served in the first place.

Biko Woods, of Cater Road, Lane End, was jailed for nine months at Aylesbury Crown Court last Friday for a burglary he committed more than two years ago.

Judge Daniel Rodwell, sentencing, told the 21-year-old that had he faced the court in August 1999, when originally committed for sentence, he would have received at least 18 months in jail.

Prosecutor Lynn Tayton said a warrant was issued for Wood's arrest after he failed to turn up for sentencing but police failed to collar him until this April.

Miss Tayton told the court that Woods, who admitted burglary with intent, was caught after a neighbour called police to Simmonds Way, Lane End, on May 11 1999. Woods was arrested as he climbed out of a house window. Computer equipment had been disturbed but the only missing item was an alarm clock.

Woods had previous convictions for dishonesty and robbery but John Simmons, mitigating, said Woods had turned over a new leaf since avoiding sentence.

Mr Simmons said Woods had not gone to court last August because he discovered his girlfriend was pregnant. He added that Woods had not been hiding from police and 'was expecting a knock on the door' at any time. He had stopped mixing with old associates and had ambitions to become a landscape gardener or a chef.

Judge Rodwell told Woods: "I do not want you to feel that everything you have done subsequently is thrown away or being ignored and I shall cut that period to half and make it nine months to reflect the progress you have made."