A COCAINE user burgled a Worcester house to settle a drug debt.

Daniel Smith broke into the home in Buttermere Drive, Warndon, and stole £850 worth of goods after he was threatened with violence if he did not pay money he owed, Worcester Magistrates Court was told.

Sam Dixon, prosecuting, said the occupant had gone to visit a friend at about 10am on November 26 last year.

When she returned at about midday, she saw the kitchen door was open and a bedroom window had been smashed.

The victim then noticed some of her possessions were missing, including a PlayStation 3, a laptop, DVDs and video games.

Forensic evidence was used to link Smith to the break-in.

His home was searched and officers discovered 15 dried cannabis plants.

Smith, of Drake Avenue, Dines Green, Worcester, pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and one charge of producing cannabis.

Mark Sheward, defending, said that 12 months before committing the offence, Smith had been using cocaine and had run up a debt, which he was not able to pay.

Mr Sheward said the 23-year-old started to receive threats of physical violence if he did not find the money.

On the day of the burglary, Smith had been walking down the road when a car pulled up alongside him with the drug dealer and three others inside and he was again threatened.

Mr Sheward said Smith panicked and broke into the house, stealing items which he then gave to the dealer.

As for the cannabis plants, Mr Sheward said Smith had been given seeds by a friend and started to grow them, but they then began to die.

He asked magistrates to postpone passing sentence to allow the Probation Service to carry out a report on Smith, to which they agreed.

Smith was released on bail on the condition he does not contact prosecution witnesses and complies with the Probation Service in the making of the report.

He will next appear before Worcester magistrates on Wednesday.