Judge who praised burglar reprimanded Judge Peter Bowers said he was going to "take a chance" on burglar Richard Rochford, who raided three homes in five days, telling him: "It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house." Giving Rochford, 26, from Redcar, North Yorks, a suspended 12-month term, the judge said: "It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house. I wouldn't have the nerve. I'm going to take a chance on you. The judge also claimed jail would not do much good in this case. Rochford was ordered to complete a two-year supervision order with drug rehabilitation and 200 hours' unpaid work, with a one-year driving ban. David Hines, chairman of the National Victims' Association, said at the time that judge Bowers's comments were "outrageous" and "let victims down."