A PROLIFIC criminal who admitted more than 40 crimes will be given the chance to take part in the Choices and Consequences (C2) rehabilitation programme.

Charlie Bradford, 20, of Otterspool Lane, Watford, admitted offences including burglary, making off without payment from a service station and theft from motor vehicles, was given the opportunity after a review of his case took place on Monday at St Albans Crown Court.

The crime spree ran between July 22, 2014, and January 16, 2015, in Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Tring, Berkhamsted, Watford, South Oxhey, Hackney and Harlow.

Bradford was accepted for assessment for the programme after admitting his offences.

The C2 programme aims to give prolific offenders, usually with some form of addiction which drives their criminality, the opportunity to put a life of crime behind them by helping them to deal with their problems, while ensuring they do not reoffend.

They must make a firm commitment to change their lifestyle, kick any addiction they may have, train and ultimately seek and remain in honest employment.

Bradford currently remains in custody but is expected to be released in early July on a bail assessment, during which time he must meet strict conditions in order to stay on the programme and avoid receiving a custodial sentence for all the crimes he has admitted to.

As part of the programme Bradford is required to:

•Live and sleep at the Supporting Herts 

•Curfew between 8pm - 8am

•Drug testing twice weekly

•Engage with Spectrum (a drug addiction programme)

•Engage with supervision appointments with Probation & Offender Manager

•Engage with education training and employment

•Engage with partnership agency when required

•To wear a GPS tracker and keep it charged

Detective sergeant Joady Ealham, from the Offender Management Unit, said: "C2 is a challenging sentence that demands total commitment from the candidates, who must surrender themselves to close monitoring.

"Not only that, but they must do all this whilst running the risk that if they don't adhere to the conditions, they face a very long time in prison."

Judge Carroll commented that if it was not possible for him to join the C2 programme he would be looking at a custodial sentence in the range of four to five years.

The C2 programme is run by Hertfordshire Constabulary in partnership with Hertfordshire Probation Service, Drug Services, other third party agencies.