A HEROIN addict has been jailed for a year after stealing £1,000 of jewellery from his mother to pay back a drug debt.

Kevin Wolton, 21, of The Mountings, Wroughton, took a gold necklace and a gold sovereign pendant from his mother Amanda on March 19, Swindon magistrates heard.

He sold them to a second hand store in Fleet Street where they were later recovered.

He also took £2,300 worth of jewellery from Vivian Cole, a family friend.

On March 21 she returned home to find her front door open and Wolton in her kitchen.

He claimed he had entered her house to get a glass of water.

She asked him to leave and discovered a nine-carat gold ring with diamonds was missing, along with a gold necklace and a gold charm bracelet.

Wolton had pawned the items from Vivian Cole's house in a shop in Commercial Road.

Wolton had also stolen a car CD stereo and attempted to steal £32 worth of polo shirts from Asda. He admitted theft.

Marion Langford, for the prosecution, said: "Wolton admitted he had been desperate for money and needed to pay back a drug debt."

He was given six months for stealing from his mother and six months for stealing the car stereo, to run consecutively.

He also received three months for taking the jewellery from Ms Cole and three months for attempted shoplifting, both to run concurrently.

No order of compensation or costs was made.

Wolton has already served three months of his one year custodial sentence while he was on remand.

Con Fernandes, for the defence, said: "His problem has been drug addiction, and he has been out offending to finance his habit.

"When he stole a gold chain and other jewellery from his mother, the person he owed money to was waiting outside. He had no option."

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