Toothbrush thief faces 17 years in jail

A toothbrush thief faces between 17 and 23 years in prison, after the High Court recommended that he is deported back to the USA.

Under California's 'three strikes and you're out' law, Miguel Sanchez could spend the next two decades behind bars.

He is currently being held at Belmarsh prison after committing a number of crimes in the UK under the alias Zachary Tracey, including burglary and possession of prohibited drugs, weapons and ammunition.

In the USA, Sanchez is wanted in relation to an incident that occurred in September 2006 when he allegedly stole electric toothbrushes from a Santa Monica chemist.

During the robbery, the offender is said to have put a security officer in fear that he might use force or violence.

On Friday, two judges decided that European human rights laws could not save Sanchez from deportation back to the USA.

Lord Justice Moses said that the English courts should not interfere with the decision of "a democratic friendly state" to increase the prison terms of repeat offenders.