AN addict who told police who had called to arrest her that she was just popping out for a cigarette, was actually having a heroin fix magistrates heard last week.

Officers had called to arrest 21-year-old Laura Jones at her flat in Waiblingen Way, Devizes, on April 7 for twice failing to turn up to answer a number of motoring offences in court.

Anna Humphreys, prosecuting at Kennet Magistrates Court on Thursday, said Jones had excused herself to go into her bedroom for a cigarette as she expected to be in custody for some time.

Miss Humphreys said: "In fact she wanted to go and inject herself with heroin to last her through police custody. The officers caught her with the syringe in her hand as she was about to inject it."

Jones pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of heroin and to driving without a licence, insurance or an MoT certificate. She also admitted failing to surrender to bail on February 25 and March 11.

Tim Hammick, defending, said: "This is the very sad face of being a drug addict. My client has told me she doesn't want to be a drug addict. She wants a job, a decent place to live and to be able to buy and run a car."

Referring to the breaches of bail, which led to the police officers coming to her flat in the first place, Mr Hammick said Jones had forgotten the first court appearance, and on the second occasion had overslept.

Jones had been put in touch with the Bath Area Drugs Advisory Service (BADAS) but had difficulty in attending her appointments in Bath. She was not receiving job seekers' allowance as she was not in a fit state to go to job interviews.

Mr Hammick said Jones had been cajoled into driving the car by the people she described as friends. "She is a nice, intelligent girl and it is tragic she has ended up like this."

Magistrates sentenced Jones to 12 months' community rehabilitation, formerly known as probation. Magistrate Terry Fell said she should receive counselling.

Mr Fell told Jones: "You have got another chance. Please take it. If you fail to take this opportunity you will find yourself in very serious trouble."

A 16-YEAR-OLD youth with a serious heroin addiction, who has been barred from all social services accommodation in the county because of his behaviour, had his case adjourned for pre-sentence reports when he appeared before Kennet magistrates last week. He was told he could face youth custody.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted interfering with a car parked at the former Nags Head pub in Urchfont.

Anna Humphreys told the court that the youth had been apprehended with a number of others attacking the Vauxhall Nova.

He had twice breached a supervision order, imposed for having assaulted his social worker, and breached a second order imposed after the first one was revoked.