Police hunt missing serial burglar

Smith was jailed in 2001 for 80 burglaries

A man who has burgled nearly 100 homes is being hunted by police after he failed to turn up to a drug rehabilitation centre for treatment.

John James Smith was sentenced to a two-year drug rehabilitation programme on 30 January after admitting 16 burglaries in Hackney, east London.

But he failed to turn up to the Sussex rehabilitation centre and police have issued a warrant for his arrest and are searching his known haunts in Tottenham and Hackney.

The case follows the Lord Chief Justice's ruling in December that courts should impose a community sentence on some first-time burglars to deal with underlying problems such as drug addiction.

'Untouchable' burglars

Smith, 23, was released from prison a year ago after serving 13 months of a three-year sentence for his part in 80 burglaries.

The case follows the Lord Chief Justice's ruling in December that courts should impose a community sentence on some first-time burglars to deal with underlying problems such as drug addiction.

Norman Brennan of the Victims of Crime Trust said the sentences made burglars feel they were "untouchable".

He said: "I truly, truly despair for the future of our criminal justice system while it is left in the hands of judges who never seem to take account of the devastation left behind by persistent burglars such as this individual.

"Lord Chief Justice Woolf, Lord Irvine and the Home Secretary owe a great deal to victims and the law-abiding public who they have failed.