A DRUG addict who admitted handling stolen goods after they were taken from a couple’s home has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Duane Birdsall denied being involved with the burglary in Durham Road, Stockton, but pleaded guilty to being in possession of a stolen Xbox console and iPad tablet sometime between June 22 and 25 this year.

Birdsall, who hopped into court on crutches, having previously broken his foot, had 50 criminal offences on his record, although his last appearance in court was in 2007.

His barrister Graeme Gaskin said he had relapsed back into heroin misuse, having lost a job he previously had, but had sought help for his problems.

He said: “He is an individual worthy of support in the community in order to continue the progress he has been making.”

Birdsall, 33, of Eldon Street, Darlington, had already spent time in custody on remand for the offence and been subject to a night-time curfew.

Judge Howard Crowson, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, suspended a ten month jail sentence on him for a year and said he would be supervised by the probation service for six months. The 8pm to 6am curfew would also continue, the judge said.