HEROIN addict Adrian Thompson has been ordered to pay £604 in compensation after admitting stealing cash and CDs to fund his habit.

Thompson, 28, of Waiblingen Way, Devizes, appeared before North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham on Thursday and pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two charges of failing to abide by a bail notice.

He also pleaded guilty to breaking into three other shops or businesses in Devizes.

He was given a year's community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £604 compensation and £118 costs.

Amanda Sawetz, prosecuting, said Thompson broke into SK Fruits through a window between September 3 and the following day, and took some items, including cash.

Between 7.20pm on September 9 and 7.30am the following day Thompson also smashed a window at Cutter's Wharf hairdressers in Devizes, and took various items, including CDs.

Ms Sawetz said the owner of Collector's Corner, in Sidmouth Street, Devizes, said Thompson tried to sell her CDs, which she recognised as the ones stolen from Cutter's Wharf.

Thompson was arrested and in questioning admitted the thefts.

"He said he had committed the burglary at Cutters' Wharf and broke a window with a brick and stole items including a cash register," said Ms Sawetz.

She said the till was found discarded nearby.

Ms Sawetz said Thompson also admitted breaking into Devizes Motor Company through a rotten skylight, into Matt Stevens Bakery through a smashed window, and into Village Veg, through a rear window but did not take anything from the m.

He also admitted breaking into SK Fruits a second time, but said nothing was taken.

The court heard that Thompson had a previous conviction for theft and had failed to attend community rehabilitation meetings on October 1 and 15.

Tim Hammick, defending, said Thompson had carried out the thefts to fund his heroin habit.

He said he has not worked for two years, has grown distant from his parents, and has a child from his ex-fiancee, who he rarely sees, but is determined to get his life back on track. Mr Hammick said Thompson has moved in with a friend who has had a drug problem but is now clear. "The reason behind the problem is the familiar one of heroin and drugs," said Mr Hammick.

"He has spent his whole life living at subsistence level, taking part in this type of offending, which is entirely destructive to him and unpleasant to shop keepers trying to make a living."

He said Thompson appreciated that heroin addiction is an illness and it had embarrassed him and his family.

Mr Hammick said Thompson was now clean of heroin.

In passing sentence, Richard Davies, the chairman of the bench, said: "He knows what will happen if he falls back down the ladder in to heroin again.

"He will just get longer and longer prison sentences."