A DRUG addict burglar linked to a spate of break-ins has been spared a prison sentence.

Kerry Gent and her then boyfriend Muhhammed Ahmed broke into the Artista Studio in Waterloo Street, Hove.

Footage showed Ahmed, 35, smashing his way into the premises and going back and forth to steal items inside.

He was seen handing over a guitar to Gent, 35, and also took cash, a tablet, four bottles of gin and sunglasses during the raid on July 5.

It left the premises owner having “sleepless nights” as Gent and Ahmed were seen hanging around in a group on the streets around Hove in July.

It was at the same time as dozens of breaks-ins, eight of which were linked to Ahmed, who was jailed for one year in September.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court this week District Judge Amanda Kelly imposed a six-month suspended sentence on Gent, who is 22 weeks pregnant.

She is making progress on beating her drug addictions, the court was told.

The Artista Cafe owner, who did not wish to be named, said: “As a result of the burglary I had sleepless nights. The criminals were hanging around in the area for weeks.

“I saw them and thought they might be looking to break in to the cafe again. I had to stay up watching out of the window for fear of being broken into again.

“When I went out to confront them in the street, they told me they knew where I lived, there was an implied threat.”

At the time of the break-ins, the owner reported that there was often no police response.

Parliamentary candidate Peter Kyle and Green Party Councillors Phelim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Clare demanded action and met Chief Superintendent Nick May, who is the Brighton divisional commander.

It was the CCTV from Artista Cafe that identified Ahmed and Gent, of Ingram Crescent West, Hove, before they were eventually arrested.

Meanwhile last month 31-year-old Ahmed Said was detained under the Mental Health Act after admitting a robbery at Cave a Fromage, and burgling nearby Buon Apetito and City Books in Western Road.

In court it was revealed that Gent had breached a suspended sentence for another burglary by failing to show up for appointments with probation.

Cathy Walker, defending, said Gent is 22 weeks pregnant and has battled “severe anxiety and depression” along with drug addictions.

The probation service said there were fears she was being “cuckooed” by drug dealers at her home, where gangs use violence and threats to use a drug user’s home as a base.

But she has finally started to engage with probation and other services.

Judge Kelly said: “I was tempted to send you to prison today, but you are at a crossroads, just starting to engage with probation. I hope that is successful, and that it stops you committing these types of offences again.”

She must complete 23 rehabilitation sessions and pay £300 compensation to Artista.