A BASINGSTOKE man has been jailed for 30 months after admitting two separate offences which, the judge said, were both ones that caused public concern.

Christopher Joyce, 31, had pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to a house burglary and the unlawful wounding of a man in a public house and Judge Michael Brodrick told him the "least sentence" he could pass was 18 months for the burglary and 12 months consecutive for the wounding.

Angus Robertson, prosecuting, said Joyce, of Butler Close, South Ham, broke into a three-bedroomed home occupied by a woman at Palmer Close, Oakridge, in November last year.

She returned late at night to find a window broken and electrical equipment and jewellery missing.

On February 3 this year, said counsel, Marc Rolfe and the defendant were in the Hammer and Tongs public house. There had been a dispute for some months between the two men.

Mr Rolfe said he felt the defendant punch him in the face and then saw broken glass on the floor.

He had to have stitches to his inner and outer lip and had a scar from his lip to his nose.

Interviewed by police, the defendant said he had gone to throw a drink at the other man and said he had not let go of the glass. He added he had never intended to cause the injuries he did.

Joyce was later arrested over the burglary as a result of a DNA sample being found on a cigarette at the property. He said he had stolen a portable television from the house, but denied taking any other items.

His counsel, James Bullen, told the court the defendant had readily admitted both the offences and shown remorse for both of them, but maintained he had only taken the television set.

Although he has previous convictions, said counsel, he had not been in trouble for five years largely due to his relationship with his partner by whom he has two daughters.

Judge Brodrick said it must have been frightening for the woman to return to her home and find the damage and missing items.

"It is one of the reasons why the public generally are concerned about offences of dwelling house burglary," he said.

The incident in the public house had also been a serious matter and, again, was of the type which caused public concern.

"These offences, taken individually and together, are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified," said the judge.