A MAN who took drugs to blot out a death crash burgled his mother's home, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Mark Timmins needed goods to sell for heroin and broke into the unoccupied house.

He began taking drugs in prison after being jailed for five years in 1997 for causing death by dangerous driving. He was charged after a number of people were killed in a crash on the M5 near Exeter.

Defence counsel Jason Aris said the 26-year-old was constantly plagued by nightmares and needed heroin to cope with anxiety stemming from the accident.

Timmins, of St Cecilia Close, Hoobrook, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to burgling his mother's house in Coton near Bridgnorth, driving while banned and while uninsured and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, said Timmins raided his mother's home while she and her daughter-in-law were out.

He loaded a TV, video and other electrical goods into a Renault car left on the driveway and drove off.

He was already in custody for another offence when he was questioned and charged. He admitted selling the stolen goods to fuel his addiction, said Mr Whitfield.