A HEROIN addict who burgled his girlfriend's grandmother's home three times in eight days has finally been jailed.

Michael Kiddell was given a chance by Judge John McNaught in March when he imposed a community penalty with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

But the 21-year-old couldn't keep on the order for more than a few days and is now behind bars.

Marcus Davey, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Kiddell and his girlfriend had used a cane from the garden to break into her granmother's house.

He said the couple were homeless and decided to break in as the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, knew where to find money.

They burgled the Kingsdown house on Sunday, September 4 and made off with £112 from a money tin.

On the following Thursday they took between £80 and £120 in cash and on Monday September 12 they stole £84 in coins.

The night before the final break-in Kiddell was offered a sofa to sleep on by a friend and took a mobile phone from the house.

Kiddell, of no fixed address, admitted three burglaries, theft and failing to surrender to custody at a previous hearing and asked for two other burglaries of friends' houses to be taken into consideration.

He was put on the order on Monday, March 13 and attended that day and on the Tuesday and Thursday, but failed to turn up for any further appointments.

Rob Ross, defending, urged to court to pass a community order saying that Kiddell had no other previous convictions.

But jailing him for 15 months Judge Tom Longbotham said: "No one likes to send a 21-year-old man who, up to now, hasn't been in trouble with the police to prison.

"Up to now everything has been done to try to help you.

"The court has no alternative but to impose a prison sentence."