A New Milton man has been jailed for 16 months for false imprisonment and burglary.

Joshua Jeremy Hill, 22, of Holly Lane, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, November 20.

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

Daily Echo: Joshua Hill was given 16 months in jailJoshua Hill was given 16 months in jail (Image: Hampshire Police)

On May 27, 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 to the property, he then allowed the girl entry to the address.

Hill stayed overnight in the home and stole alcohol when he eventually left the property the next day.

In addition to the 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 ten-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. A large portion of that suspended sentence – eight months - has now been 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 and 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.

“I hope that 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."