Burglar uses Torquay paper to apologise for robberies

A prolific house-breaker who wanted to apologise to his victims wrote to the Torquay Herald Express. And his act of contrition helped him to escape a jail sentence. William Johnson wrote: "I'm sorry for the misery I've caused many innocent people... I need help." A court in Exeter was told that Johnson, who admitted stealing property worth more than £10,000, was now determined to cure a heroin habit and realised that his burglaries had ruined people's lives. He was given a two-year supervision order. (Via Torquay Herald Express)