A BURGLAR on bail awaiting sentence has been banned from going to his own 39th birthday party by a judge.
Lee Thomas of Tuffley Avenue, Gloucester, applied to Gloucester Crown Court for his electronically tagged home curfew to be extended by three hours until 10pm last Thursday so he could go to a restaurant for dinner with his family.
But Judge Michael Cullum rejected the application, saying Thomas was lucky to be on bail at all.
He questioned why Thomas could not go out for a celebration lunch instead.
He ruled that Thomas had to be at home from 7pm until 7am.
"He is subject to a very severe curfew so that the fear of further offending can be controlled ," said the judge. "Curfews should not be relaxed for social events.
Thomas has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to burgling the Co-op in Bourton-on-the-Water, on December 6 last year, stealing cigarettes and alcohol.
His sentence has been adjourned until after the trial of another man who has denied taking part in the shop burglary with him.
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