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Burglar: My crime 'isn't brave'

A serial burglar told by a judge that his crime "takes a huge amount of courage" has told the Daily Mirror he disagrees and that he was sorry for what he has done. Judge Peter Bowers is being investigated by the Office for Judicial Complaints.

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Cameron: Burglary is cowardice not bravery

Prime Minister David Cameron has told Daybreak that burglary is a "despicable and hateful crime" after a judge said a serial intruder showed "courage" in breaking into a series of homes.

He told Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly:

I've been burgled twice. You feel completely violated when someone has smashed their way into your house and stolen your possessions and I'm very clear that people who repeatedly burgle should be sent to prison.

When asked whether he felt career criminal Richard Rochford should have been jailed by Judge Peter Bowers for a spate of burglaries, Mr Cameron replied:

I haven't seen the specific case. Judges sometimes say things which you have to read the full context, and the rest of it. But I'm very clear that burglary is not bravery. Burglary is cowardice, burglary is a hateful crime.

People sometimes say it's not a violent crime but actually if you've been burgled you do feel it was violent - someone breaking into your home.

That's why this Government is actually changing the law to toughen the rules on self-defence against burglars, saying that householders do have the right to defend themselves.

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