Sheffield law student who went 'off the rails' burgled halls of residence during party

Hamzah Arshad attended a party in a communal area in The Forge halls of residence, at Sheffield Hallam University, on October 22, last year.

At some point he went into one of the flats, which was unlocked, and stole a laptop, £340 in cash from a jar on the bedside, and a silver-patterned ring given to the owner by his grandfather before he died.

Arshad's fingerprints were discovered on the jar and he was arrested on November 25, prosecutor Beverley Wright told Sheffield Crown Court, but he returned the laptop after finding he couldn't unlock it.

He was previously arrested in Amsterdam for possession of drugs, and received a suspended sentence for possession of a knife and cannabis earlier this year.

Allan Armbrister, mitigating, said: "He found the pressure of being a student too much."

But Judge Roger Thomas QC said: "That doesn't bring about criminal offending - he's from a decent family, he likes drugs and he's gone off the rails."

Mr Armbrister said: "The pressure of being a student drove him to drugs. He is at very low risk of reoffending."

He urged the judge to suspend the sentence, adding: "His parents are putting other onerous requirements on him to behave."

Arshad, 20, of Glenview Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to burglary.

The judge told Arshad: "You've got your whole life ahead of you. You've made an appalling start to it. You've had every advantage and you mucked it up. You got involved with drugs.

"Drugs were recovered from your room. In Liverpool a couple of months ago you were using drugs and there was a knife around. Magistrates gave you a suspended sentence.

"You pinched this ring which has a lot of value beyond the pounds, shillings and pence."

He imposed six months, suspended for 12 months, with 20 rehabilitation days, and ordered him to pay £340 compensation to his victim and £340 towards prosecution costs. Arshad must also abide by a three month curfew, from 7pm and 6am.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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