A HEROIN addict who burgled his own mother's house to feed his drug habit gave himself up after a heart-to-heart with her.

Keith O'Neill, 26, admitted one charge of burglary at his mother's home in Mulberry Grove, Pinehurst, at Swindon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The relationship between mother and son had been fractious ever since the pair came to Swindon more than a year ago.

They had moved from London in the hope O'Neill would be able to wean himself off heroin.

But his mother had to ask him to leave home after he ignored a number of warnings to improve his behaviour.

After she threw him out they remained in contact and O'Neill returned his house keys to his mother.

The court heard how, on June 6 last year, Mrs O'Neill left the house locked but when she returned home at about 5pm she noticed the garage door had been damaged.

After checking the house, she realised she had been burgled.

Valuable items that Mrs O'Neill had hidden had been taken.

These included a digital camera, a video camera, a lawnmower and a hedge trimmer.

Neighbours told Mrs O'Neill that they had seen her son at the property that afternoon hitting a lock on the garden shed.

In total, O'Neill stole goods to the value of £955.

He has been addicted to heroin for several years and is on a drug rehabilitation programme.

Mike Pulseford, defending, said: "This is a difficult situation because of the relationship between the two parties.

"In spite of this, they are still speaking to one another and my client spent some time with his mother over Christmas.

"As a result of conversations with her, he surrendered himself on Sunday. This is a very sad story. My client feels he is not getting the drug treatment he needs quickly enough."

O'Neill is living with his girlfriend in London and was granted bail.

Chairman of the bench Roy Jarvis said: "There is an element of breach of trust in this case in as much as you burgled your mother's home to feed your drug habit.

"We have been told the relationship between you and your mother is improving and it is hopefully still improving."

O'Neill also pleaded guilty to a string of motoring offences, which took place in Swindon between February and March last year.

He was disqualified from driving until the court reconvenes on Monday, February 9.

He will be sentenced for the burglary on February 9 after probation reports have been prepared.

Emma-Kate Lidbury