THE reason a convicted robber, burglar and thief was arrested and handcuffed at a Worcester court last week can now be revealed.

We reported how Robert Birtley was met at Worcester Crown Court by city detectives - minutes after he had been given a suspended prison sentence for handling high value stolen goods.

The 50-year-old, late to court because he 'overslept', was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years by Judge Nicolas Cartwright after disposing of thousands of pounds worth of items stolen in a house burglary by taking the kit to Cash Converters in Worcester.

But he was arrested just minutes later - and we can now reveal that the arrest outside court was for failing to appear at court on a charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and a drugs swipe.

He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court that same afternoon and has been bailed to attend magistrates court on August 17.

Birtley of Mill Street, Evesham, had only a few moments before he was met by officers after being 'reluctantly' spared an immediate jail sentence by the Judge Cartwright.

Birtley was placed on a six month daily curfew between 2pm and 2am and his payment of £1,200 prosecution costs will be delayed until November when the proceeds of crime application will be dealt with.

When Birtley's defence barrister, Naomi Nelson-Cofie, referred to the curfew and reminded the judge that Birtley had a dog to walk, the judge replied: "He will have to walk it in the morning."

Emily Heggadon, prosecuting, said that an Audi S1 worth £20,000, a MacBook Pro worth £3,200 and camera equipment and various lenses worth £3,500 had been stolen in a house burglary in Stroud overnight on November 26 and 27, 2019 when the occupier was still in bed.

Birtley said he was not involved in the burglary but accepted that when he paid for the laptop he knew 'it was too good to be true'.

A total benefit figure for Birtley for £6,700 was identified by the prosecution.

At 10.45am the day after the burglary, Birtley went to Cash Converters in Worcester with burglar Christopher Spires, the man who had targeted the home in Stroud, and exchanged the camera equipment and lenses for £600.

Spires was convicted of the burglary in Stroud which had left the occupier 'shocked' and 'anxious'. Birtley indicated a guilty plea to handling on what would have been the first day of trial.

Birley alone then went to First React computer repairs in Evesham at 2.30pm with the MacBook Pro, asking if they could fix it. The laptop was traced using the find my phone app.

Birtley, who has 13 previous convictions for 26 offences, was arrested at his home in Evesham on November 28, 2019. He told police he had bought the laptop for £500 to £600.

The goods were recovered and returned to their owner.