A DRUG addict who stole from the village shop where his mother worked was arrested after she identified him to police, a court was told.

Carl William Young, 31, took a crate of 24 cans of lager from the Co-op store in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

When staff viewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident, his mother, who works at the outlet, recognised him and called police.

Recovering heroin addict Young, who still lives with his mother in Moss Way, Pelton, admitted theft at Consett Magistrates' Court.

Geoffrey Taylor, prosecuting, said: "Mr Young's problem is he is a heroin addict. He was caught on CCTV with a slab of lager.

"Both the defendant's mother and the police officer who attended were able to recognise him."

The court heard how unemployed Young is on a methadone programme to combat his addiction, and spends £28 of his £51-a-week benefits on bus fares to attend support meetings and voluntary drug tests.

Suzanne Hanson, in mitigation, said Young's mother continued to support him by waiving money for his board and lodgings to ensure he had enough money to pay bus fares.

She said: "There were no recriminations towards his mother over this. In fact, he apologised to her for the position he put her in."

Young also admitted two separate thefts from the chemist's in Pelton, where he stole cans of ladies' body spray and air fresheners.

Miss Hanson said: "All three of these offences were committed while he was actually on the waiting list for treatment.

"Carl Young knew he had a problem and spent four-and-a-half-months waiting. The problem is, people need help as soon as they ask for it."

The bench imposed a 12-month, low-intensity drug treatment and testing order and ordered him to pay £53 compensation.