A heroin addict from Kidderminster was jailed for two years at Worcester Crown Court.

Judge Ian Morris told Richard Bettis: "The time has come when the public is entitled to a respite from your offending."

Bettis, aged 34, of Windsor Drive, admitted burglary and handling stolen goods.

Tim Hannam, prosecuting, said Bettis stole a DVD player, nine DVD discs and a key fob from a flat in Grasmere Close, Kidderminster, on November 5, 2001.

And he said Bettis's fingerprints were found on a black bin liner containing electrical goods worth £250, stolen from the Littlewoods store in Kidderminster on July 30, 2001.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said Bettis had gone to Scotland to cure his heroin addiction, but had returned to using the drug once he came back to Kidderminster.

He said that Bettis, who had six previous burglary convictions, had managed to get off drugs completely while on remand.

Judge Morris told Bettis at yesterday's hearing: "The underlying feature of your offending is your addiction to heroin.

"I have seen from your history that you are capable of motivating yourself to keep off it, but no doubt the people you mix with make it very easy to fall to temptation."