A MAN who smashed a car window and took a handbag before trying to withdraw cash on stolen bank cards was given the opportunity “to turn over a new leaf ”.

Nicholas Wells, 24, admitted fraud after breaking into a parked car on the Moot, in Downton, on January 8, 2016.

The owner of the car called her bank when she realised her cards had been stolen, and was told that two attempts had been made to withdraw cash.

At Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday, prosecutor Colin Meeke said that Wells had tried to remove £200 and £500 from Harnham One Stop.

Two police officers then surveyed the shop’s CCTV, and recognised Wells.

He was arrested and denied all knowledge of the incident, until he was shown the video footage.

Defending, Berenice Mulvanny told the court that her client had turned his life around and, thanks to prison schemes, had been able to secure a gardening job when he left prison for a previous offence.

She added that he had also repaired the window, and had not taken any cash from the handbag.

Judge Andrew Barnett said: “You broke into a car and stole a handbag.

“You want to turn over a new leaf and I am going to give you the chance to have that.”

Judge Barnett closed by warning Wells of his future behaviour.

“I hope you realise that this sort of criminal behaviour is not doing you or society any good.”

Wells, of Eyres Way, Salisbury, was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £220 in compensation for the theft of the “designer handbag”, and a victim surcharge of £60.

  •  WELLS was jailed in 2015 with his father Wilfred and brothers Lenny and Edward for a huge conspiracy to steal from cars.

The family stole almost £24k worth of valuables across Wiltshire, causing almost £12k worth of damage.

Police said the four were so prolific that car crime in the Salisbury area dropped by more than a third after they were caught.

Their targets included the Help for Heroes car park at Tedworth House and Harnham Care Home.

Nicholas was sentenced to two-and-a-half years.