A "vulnerable" man from Wokingham has been spared jail after playing a secondary role in a burglary last year.

Charlie Pearce, 21, of Budges Road, was involved in a burglary that happened in Wokingham last March, where he acted as the "look out" while his accomplice broke into the house.

An X-box and several collectable knives, together equating to the amount of £682, were stolen from the property.

He was given a sentence of eight months, suspended for two years at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, February 14.

The court heard how the defendant had had a difficult past and faced many problems, which led Recorder Edward Burgess to believe that to imprison Pearce would lead to more problems in the future.

Pearce's defence lawyer, Christopher Blake, said of Pearce: "He finds a great many things challenging.

"There have been a lot of background problems he has faced and overcome in the past."

Addressing Recorder Burgess, he added: "I would submit that your honour can see a level of vulnerability."

He added that the role that Pearce played in the burglary, as a 'look out', was due to the fact that his accomplice, who has been jailed for three years, "was undoubtedly a more sophisticated criminal."

It was also stated that whilst Pearce was in custody awaiting his trial, he had been bullied by other inmates.

Recorder Burgess, speaking about his decision to give Pearce a suspended sentence, said: "You were a secondary part in this offence."

He added that the "main man" in the burglary was Pearce's accomplice, who Recorder Burgess noted is 11 years older than Pearce.

He added: "Some £682 of property was stolen.

"You are still a young man at 21 and have had all sorts of issues, many of which are no fault of your own.

"This doesn't excuse anything that you have done but it seems to me that you need help.

"If I was to sentence you to prison today it seems to me that you will be more likely to go on to commit another offence."

He added that if he appeared in court again in the next two years, he would be sent to prison.