Former heroin addict spared jail

A judge has admitted taking a "significant risk" by allowing a man who carried out nearly 150 thefts and burglaries to stay out of prison.

Former drug addict Dean Weaver walked free from court after Judge Martin Picton said his "substantial progress" meant he could rehabilitate in freedom.

In October the judge told Weaver, 25, of Gloucester, he would not be jailed if he stayed drug-free for 12 weeks.

The city's crown court heard Weaver had lived up to his side of the bargain.

Negative samples showed he had not taken drugs since last year's hearing.

Home curfew

Judge Picton said he originally deferred sentence on Weaver, from Abbeydale, after weighing up the "competing issues" and because he had shown progress on an earlier order made by magistrates.

Weaver, who admitted raiding homes and businesses throughout Gloucestershire to feed his heroin addiction, was told that granting him his liberty was "not an easy decision".

Weaver told the judge: "I just want to change my life. I'm sick of living the way I've been living."

Judge Picton sentenced him to a two-year community order, with probation supervision and routine drugs tests.

He will also have to obey a six-month home curfew between 10pm and 7am and carry out a month of education and training.

At October's hearing, Weaver admitted two burglaries and one theft.

He asked for 142 other offences to be taken into consideration, including 126 car thefts, five burglaries at businesses, seven house raids and taking a vehicle without consent four times.