A BURGLAR who committed thefts to fund his drug habit has been given one last chance to prove he can become clean and lead an honest life. Terry Adams, 32, of Stanley Road, Stevenage, pleaded guilty to one dwelling burglary and one non-dwelling burglary a

A BURGLAR who committed thefts to fund his drug habit has been given one last chance to prove he can become clean and lead an honest life.

Terry Adams, 32, of Stanley Road, Stevenage, pleaded guilty to one dwelling burglary and one non-dwelling burglary at Luton Crown Court.

He also asked for another dwelling burglary to be taken into consideration when sentencing.

Prosecuting, Thomas Elmer said the first offence took place on the night of January 2. Staff at Home and Mortgages Estate Agents in High Street, Stevenage, locked up for the evening but returned the next day to find a ground floor window broken with a brick. A Dell laptop worth £1,000 had been stolen.

Police found a swab of blood at the scene and did a DNA match with Adams, whose details were already on their database.

Mr Elmer said the dwelling burglary occurred on the afternoon of January 4 at a home in Grove Road, Stevenage. Adams broke in and ransacked the house while the owner was out, taking items including a digital camera, DVD player and alcohol.

Adams' fingerprints were lifted from the scene. He was arrested and admitted the offences.

The offence he asked to be taken into consideration was committed on January 8 when he broke into a house in Woolners Way, Stevenage, through an insecure back door and stole various items while the owner was in bed asleep.

Mr Elmer told the court on Friday that Adams had numerous previous convictions including burglary and shoplifting.

Defending, Daniel Higgins said Adams' crimes were motivated by his class A drug habit.

He urged Recorder Alistair Sharp to let Adams undertake a drug rehabilitation assessment to see if he would respond to that treatment rather than sending him to prison immediately.

He said: "He wants to undertake a regime with probation to keep him off drugs."

Recorder Sharp agreed to adjourn the sentencing for four weeks to see if Adams would comply with a drug rehabilitation course. The four-week assessment will test whether he can stay drug-free and keep appointments.

He told Adams: "This is your final chance.