A FORMER jockey who turned to a life of crime after his career came to an early end was given the chance to make a fresh start yesterday.

Roy Walker, of the Norby Estate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, admitted charges of burglary, deception and receiving stolen goods when he appeared before magistrates in Richmond.

The Bench decided to impose a two-year community rehabilitation order, to give Walker a chance to wean himself off heroin and start a new career with a Ripon quarry firm.

Jane Cook, prosecuting, said Walker was first arrested in July and charged with selling fish stolen from a local fish and chip shop as well as obtaining money by deception by selling a camera which he knew was defective.

While on bail, he was arrested again on suspicion of going equipped for burglary and, when he was being interviewed by police, he also admitted a break-in at a local dentist's surgery.

He was ordered to pay his victims a total of £369.90 in compensation and prosecution costs of £120.

Magistrates decided on the sentence after hearing Walker had already tried to put his drug addiction behind him by joining a referral scheme.