A MAN whose York home was branded "a den of handling stolen goods" was today starting 15 months in jail.

Michael Nesham, 29, of Wenham Road, Acomb, appeared at York Crown Court and admitted three charges of handling stolen goods.

Nesham, who had not been to jail despite a number of previous convictions, was told he had led a "charmed life" with regard to prison.

"That charmed life is now over," the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told him.

Nesham's wife, Rose, 36, of the same address, was told she had narrowly escaped jail after admitting two charges of handling stolen goods.

A 16-year-old youth from the York area, who appeared with the couple, admitted two offences of burglary and one of handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to a ten-month detention and youth training order for each offence, to run consecutively to a similar order he is already serving.

The court heard how the Neshams were linked to a string of offences in the York area.

Suzanne Smales, for Michael Nesham, said her client had an 18-year-old son who suffered from muscular dystrophy and needed day-to-day care.

"His father helps with day-to-day things such as lifting him into the bath. A custodial sentence would deprive him of that care," she said.

Mrs Smales said the 16-year-old youth, who she was also representing, had made good progress in the detention and training order he was serving. Jailing the youth, Judge Hoffman agreed the order "appeared to be going well."

He said: "I must bear in mind your age and the progress you appear to be making, but I must also bear in mind your poor record for one so young and the fact that one of your burglary victims has suffered trauma as a result."

Rose Nesham was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order and 60 hours of community punishment.

Judge Hoffman told her: "You have come very close to being sent away, but have just about avoided it.

"I have kept you out of prison because you are needed at home, but you can not rely on those circumstances next time. Break that order at your peril."

Updated: 15:48 Friday, January 03, 2003