AN ISLE of Wight burglar who targeted two popular Isle of Wight seaside cafes has been given one final chance to co-operate with the probation service before he is hauled before magistrates for sentencing.

Luis Montague, of St Johns Road, Shanklin, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Friday, November 29.

At a previous hearing in September, the 20-year-old admitted burglary, and attempted burglary, in Ryde, on May 30.

During that hearing, prosecutor, Liz Miller, said Montague and an accomplice gained entry at Appley Beach Cafe, causing damage to a patio door in the process.

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Police were alerted at around 8am the following morning, the cafe owner reporting a till drawer was missing, together with a bank card, the CCTV switch had been turned off, and bottles of alcohol were taken.

Police were also told a failed attempt had been made to use the stolen credit card on an Xbox account and the cash drawer was later found in grass close to the cafe, completely empty.

The court heard on the same day, on the same seafront, the pair tried to gain entry at The Dell Cafe, smashing a window and forcing a couple of external doors.

Both Montague and his accomplice were arrested, and £900 worth of damage was caused to the two cafes.

On Friday, Montague was due to be sentenced, but magistrates were told he failed to attend his appointment with probation, meaning no pre-sentence report had been prepared.  

Michael McGoldrick, defending, said the whole process was new to Montague and he was naive to the court process.

He asked for one final chance for him to have a report prepared, which magistrates agreed to.

In an odd exchange, magistrates asked Montague if he understood the powers they had, to which he said he did, but when pressed on what they were, he said: “I don’t know.”

Magistrates told Montague the door to the cells was behind him, and he was given one final chance to co-operate with the probation service.

Montague saw his case adjourned to February 7.

He was granted conditional bail.