Last chance’ for drug user who breached ASBO seven times

A DRUG user who breached his Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) seven times has been given a last chance by a judge. Jason Burnett, 31, was banned from shops in Stevenage for two years in February 2005 after being convicted of stealing to pay for his drug

A DRUG user who breached his Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) seven times has been given a last chance by a judge.

Jason Burnett, 31, was banned from shops in Stevenage for two years in February 2005 after being convicted of stealing to pay for his drug addiction.

Prosecutor Keith Stones said Burnett was caught in a mobile phone shop in the town centre with his partner - the seventh breach of his ASBO.

Burnett, of Lapwing Rise, Stevenage, admitted the breach when he appeared at Luton Crown Court last Thursday.

Ardul Singh, defending, said that in the past Burnett had breached the ASBO so that he would be sent to prison in order to detox himself.

But now Burnett had his own address, added Mr Singh, and he understood he must cure himself of drugs or his life would be one of being in and out of jail until he killed himself.

Judge Richard Foster told Burnett: "You are wasting your life away. Unless you sort the drugs out you will have an early death. At the end of the day it is up to you."

He passed a two-month sentence suspended for 12 months and told him it was his "last chance".