A FORMER morphine addict from a village near Worcester has escaped an immediate prison sentence after breaching a community order for the second time.

Mark Collins, of Crown Close, Lower Broadheath, received an eight-week sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The court heard from the probation service how Collins had only completed three-and-a-half hours of unpaid work despite being told to carry out 61 hours and had failed to turn up to work appointments.

Mark Sheward, defending, said the 31-year-old’s addiction resulted from a serious motorcycle crash in 2009 but he did not tell anyone about the problem and missed appointments with the probation service as a result of not getting any help.

Mr Sheward told the court Collins had rid himself of his drug dependency and could carry out unpaid work.