A HOUSE burglar has been given one last chance to mend his ways.

Heroin user Thomas Fox was allowed on to a drug treatment and testing order to try to tackle his addiction and hopefully stop his offending.

The 34-year-old was appearing at Swindon Crown Court after admitting burglary and attempted burglary.

Alison Frazer, prosecuting, said the first break-in took place at a house in Morrison Street at the start of May last year.

The second offence took place the following day when Fox was disturbed as he tried to enter a house in The Mall, Old Town.

Shortly after 1pm she said a man was working in his potting shed when he heard a noise coming from the back of a neighbour's house.

Fox was eventually caught after police were called.

Ms Frazer said Fox had a string of previous convictions including 10 other house burglaries.

The offences also pre-date his last court appearance in May last year when he was sentenced to 15 months for burglary and theft.

At a previous hearing Fox, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary. He also asked for two commercial burglaries, a theft and attempted theft to be taken into consideration.

Michael Butt, defending, said that his client was released from that sentence last month but had been remanded in custody ever since. He said that he had received a number of prison sentences and in the past had come out and got back into taking drugs and offending.

Judge Charles Wade told Fox: "You have continued over a period of time to offend mostly in burglary, theft, deception and various other sorts of offence to fund your drug habit.

"You have a problem with drugs and alcohol which goes back almost 20 years, since the age of 15."

Passing the drug treatment and testing order, he said: "For you it really is the last opportunity. If I give you this opportunity and you fail it is very unlikely you will be given this opportunity again. It is not a soft option. It is not easy."

After passing sentence Fox replied: "Thanks for the chance."