A DRUG addict who committed burglaries to feed his habit has been given a final chance by the court to mend his ways.Adrian Mills, 22, of Woods Lane, Melton, has been told to come back to Ipswich Crown Court in four months and if he can prove he is drug free and not offending he can avoid a three-year prison sentence.

A DRUG addict who committed burglaries to feed his habit has been given a final chance by the court to mend his ways.

Adrian Mills, 22, of Woods Lane, Melton, has been told to come back to Ipswich Crown Court in four months and if he can prove he is drug free and not offending he can avoid a three-year prison sentence.

Judge John Devaux said because Mills had admitted breaking into three houses in Whitland Close and Kingston Road, Ipswich, and at the Strand, Wherstead, and had a record for committing burglaries he should by law be jailed for the minimum of three years.

Mills also admitted perverting the course of justice by asking two burglary victims to withdraw their police statements.

Simon Spence, mitigating, said Mills was offered the chance of a drug treatment and testing order earlier in the year but it had ended abruptly when Mills was arrested for an offence which was not pursued by police.

Mr Spence said Mills had been doing well with the order. He persuaded Judge John Devaux that Mills should be given another chance to become drug free instead of being jailed.

He said Mills had offended to feed his drug habit.

Judge Devaux said: "I will defer sentencing for four months until November 7 when you will come back before me. If I am told you have committed no offences in the meantime and you have given up drugs because your tests are clean I will not pass a prison sentence because I will be so pleased".

However he warned Mills that if he "failed" the total prison sentence was likely to be three years and three months.