Residents have criticised a decision to allow a burglar to walk free from court - and return to the village where he committed the crimes.

After hearing that Gary Callaby, 29, of West Raynham, Norfolk, had a heroin problem, Judge Alasdair Darroch imposed a 12-month drug treatment order.

He decided against a prison sentence in the wake of guidelines laid down by Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf, saying first offenders could be dealt with by community sentencing.

He told Callaby at Norwich Crown Court: "If the latest decision had not come out it would have been a prison sentence."

"We feel betrayed," said Monica Turner

Callaby admitted three burglaries and asked for four to be taken into consideration. He also admitted one theft charge.

People living in Callaby's home village say they are shocked by the sentence.

Janice Hankey, 60, was one of Callaby's victims. He entered her home and stole £70 in cash.

"He knocked on my door the week before and said he had been burgled so I was also on the alert for this stranger - so I thought."

Monica and Alf Turner, who lived next door to Callaby, say they feel betrayed.

"We did look after him. With the rehabilitation he is having we do hope he will come out of it much stronger and a much better young man," Mrs Turner said.

Callaby's solicitor Simon Nicholls said he deeply regretted preying on his neighbours and was ashamed of his crimes.

He added that the drug rehabilitation order was not an easy option, and if Callaby broke his conditions he faced imprisonment.