A SERIAL burglar is back behind bars after using a mobile phone stolen from an 88-year-old woman.

Robert Birkenhead was on recall when he received the stolen device from known thief Daniel Clouder.

He had served half a sentence for robbing a 92-year-old man on his doorstep, leaving the pensioner lying injured on the floor outside his home.

But the 23-year-old was back in court for breaching those terms by using the phone, attempting to burgle a property and being caught in possession of a kitchen knife and cannabis.

Southampton Crown Court heard Marjorie Ramone's house had been burgled by Clouder, 21, as she was in bed, leaving her "scared" to sleep in her own home.

Siobhan Lindsay, prosecuting, told the court Ms Ramone was "vulnerable and alone" after the incident in January.

From her home a mobile phone was taken, which within hours was being used by Birkenhead, the prosecution said.

Ms Lindsay said that the pair were then spotted in the back garden of a home in Inner Avenue a month later, but fled moments after being spotted by neighbours.

When Birkenhead was arrested in July, officers found him with a kitchen knife and illegal substances, which he said was "for his own protection" after recently being assaulted.

Birkenhead has a long history of burgling, including the £500 robbery of the pensioner in Portswood.

For that, he was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment in 2014, being released last year.

Lucy Conroy, mitigating, said Birkenhead's offending was "down to his own stupidity" and that he faced "becoming a career criminal" if he didn't turn his life around.

She added that Birkenhead had been easily led by Clouder, who her client said was a "bad influence" on him.

Birkenhead, of Ashton Gardens, Eastleigh, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, attempted burglary, possession of a bladed article and possession of a class B drug.

He was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, which will be served at the same time as the remainder of his sentence for robbery.

Clouder, of York Close, Northam, pleaded guilty to 20 thefts and was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment.

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