A SINGLE father, who stole from outhouses and sheds including ones in Winkleigh and Okehampton, has been jailed after he ignored a warning that he must choose between his love of his sons and his love of drugs.

James Sowden was given a chance to carry on bringing up his two boys, aged seven and nine, when he was given a suspended sentence for drug dealing in 2015.

At the time the Judge told him: ‘You are going to have to make the decision whether you love them more than you love drugs. It is your children who take the credit for your sentence being suspended, not you.’

Within seven months Sowden had returned to taking amphetamine and had started stealing from sheds and outhouses all over north Devon to feed his habit.

He was caught because he dropped his mobile phone at the scene of one of his four raids and it enabled police to link him not only to the other three, but also to the theft of a cement mixer from Exmoor Zoo.

They caught him red-handed in a hired pick-up truck with a stolen quad bike and lawn mower in the back, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Sowden, aged 27, of Burnside Road, Ilfracombe, admitted four burglaries, theft, and two counts of possessing amphetamines.

He was jailed for 18 months by Judge Erik Salomonsen, who chose not to implement the 21-month suspended sentence in full.

He told him: ‘You have had problems with drugs for some years and when you received the suspended sentence you were told what would happen if you committed other offences.

‘I have heard you are the sole carer for your two sons. I hope you use your time inside to rid yourself of your addiction so when you come out you can be of use to your sons and to society.’

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said Sowden was stopped in March 2016 driving a pick-up with goods stolen from the shed raids in the back. He was found with amphetamines on him and at his home.

The outhouses were all broken into in February or March. A hedge trimmer and chainsaw were stolen from Winkleigh, a ride on lawn mower from Stockleigh, near Okehampton, spanners were stolen from a cottage at Bradworthy and a quadbike from Narracott, Barnstaple, The cement mixer was stolen from Exmoor Zoo and left at the scene of one of the raids. Sowden also dropped his mobile, which enabled police to link him to all the burglaries.

Mr Richard Crabb, defending, said Sowden had the sole care of his sons, but his parents were now helping to look after them.

Social services were aware of the case but Sowden should retain the tenancy on his home if he spent less than a year in jail and this would make it more likely he would be able to look after the boys again.

In the previous case in July 2015 Sowden admitted production of cannabis, and possession of cannabis and amphetamines with intent to supply.

Recorder Mr Ignatius Hughes, QC, told him he must choose between his children and drugs.