Burglar Peter Smith who raided 16 houses to fund his heroin habit shortly after being released from prison, may be treated at prestigious rehabilitation unit.

Smith, who was jailed in 2002 for 57 house burglaries, had only been out of prison for a few weeks when he returned to crime.

But despite being a three strike burglar, meaning he should get a jail term of three years, the 28-year-old has been told he may get a place at the Clouds House in East Knoyle, near Shaftesbury.

The clinic, which was the subject of a BBC documentary in 2002, has treated stars like Robbie Williams, Leslie Crowther, Paula Yates and Phil Lynott.

However a judge had to adjourn passing sentence because Smith must be returned to prison to finish an earlier sentence after the Home Office revoked his release licence.

Earlier, Swindon Crown Court heard how Smith was released from a four year prison sentence in April this year.

Just over seven weeks later he broke into a house on London Road, Chippenham, stealing two mobile phones and a gold sovereign ring worth a £200.

He then went on to raid another 15 houses all over Swindon, stealing property worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Matthew Scott, prosecuting, said Smith was caught in July, shortly after raiding a house in Croft Road, Swindon. He had stolen a laptop computer, MP3 player and digital camera.

Mr Scott said that in all of the raids, Smith would knock on the front door and, if there was no reply, go to the back and break in.

Smith, of no fixed abode, admitted two burglaries and asked for 12 other burglaries and two attempted burglaries to be taken into consideration.

The court heard the value of items stolen in the three and half month crime spree totalled more than £17,000.

Smith was jailed in March 2002 for 57 burglaries and had received a 33 month prison term in January 1998 for other burglaries.

Paul Orton, defending, said Smith only broke into houses to fund his drug habit and wanted to get off heroin.

Judge Tom Longbotham told Smith: "If there is a real chance of breaking that cycle, then the public will be protected."

He warned that if an order allowing Smith to go to Clouds broke down, or if he did not make such an order, Smith should expect a jail sentence of six years.

Smith was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in early February.