A NEW Milton man has been jailed after letting himself into a home, spending the night and stealing alcohol.

Joshua Jeremy Hill, of Holly Lane, was jailed for 16 months for burglary and false imprisonment when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday (November 20).

The 22-year-old was sentenced to eight months behind bars after incidents on Saturday, May 27, and Monday, May 1 this year.

On May 27, the court was told Hill entered a home in Old Milton Road, New Milton.

He gained access to the property by leaving a window open while carrying out work on the address earlier in the day.

Hill, who was in the company of a teenage girl when he entered the home, knew the owner was away at the time. After gaining access, he allowed the girl entry to the address via the front door.

He stayed overnight in the home and stole alcohol when he eventually left the following day.

On May 1, Hill forced entry to McColls on Station Road, New Milton, and stole alcohol and vapes with a combined value of £137.57.

As well as time given for these two offences, Hill must also serve a further eight months behind bars.

This follows his further criminal activity while already on a 10-month suspended sentence for false imprisonment of a child, an incident which occurred in Bournemouth in April 2021.

That sentence was handed down to him at Bournemouth Crown Court, with eight months of that suspended sentence now activated.

PSI Stephen Hortin, of the Western Area Crime Team, said: “I am so pleased to see that Mr Hill is secure in prison for a significant period.

“I hope he will use the time to reassess his life choices. I hope that after release he will seek to live in a better, healthier and more constructive manner.

“I am equally pleased for the communities of New Milton and the wider New Forest area.

“Hill cannot cause them the trouble, losses, and perhaps most importantly at this time of year, the emotional disturbance that is always experienced after burglaries.

“The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary work hard, as one, to protect communities across the force area.

“The Area Crime Teams across the force focus on pursuing dwelling burglars.

“I hope the communities affected by these offences will take some comfort in this news and feel ever more comfortable with reporting burglaries, so that we can do everything possible to seek and prosecute the offenders.”