AN UNDERWEAR thief who stole women’s lingerie from a washing line at night has avoided jail.

Luke Wicker, aged 20, was today given a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

Wicker, formerly of Whitby Close, Biggin Hill, was also given a 100 hours community payback sentence and a restraining order not to contact the victim or go to her home.

Magistrates were told Wicker stole the underwear during the early hours of the morning on four separate occasions between June 1 and 11 by jumping over the fence into the victim’s garden in Melody Road, Biggin Hill.

He had pleaded guilty to four counts of theft on June 17.

The court heard the complainant had set up CCTV at her home to catch the culprit due to the frequency of the offences.

Wicker was subsequently caught on camera stuffing the clothes down his pants before leaping over the fence into an alleyway.

After police arrested Wicker, they searched his home and found 65 items of clothing hidden behind his bed including 15 bras, 26 knickers and a pair of tights.

Most of the items belonged to the complainant’s 13-year-old daughter.

Prosecutor Mary Atere said: “Officers noticed some of the items, in particular the crotch area, had been cut out including the breast area of tops and bras.

“The defendant initially said this was a prank and he was just having a laugh.

“When asked why he took female underwear he said he would rather take one type of sex than both.”

In mitigation, Aisling Rowe said: “When he was stopped he accepted he had done this. He has co-operated throughout.

“He has removed himself from Bromley due to threats of violence, including on Facebook."

On passing sentence, chairman of the magistrates, Ken Robins, said: “The reasons for our sentence are because the nature of this is quite disturbing.

“There were disturbing aspects and it was prolonged and persistent.

“Significant distress had been suffered by the victim and family.”

Wicker, who now lives in a Sussex night shelter, was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim.