TEENAGE heroin addict Thomas Bateman was given a third chance to kick his habit by a court yesterday and warned that if he failed he risked a life of escalating prison sentences.

Harrogate magistrates bailed Bateman, 19, last month, after he admitted five thefts and one charge of failing to answer bail. His suitability for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) could not be assessed because he had twice failed to keep dates with the assessors and had breached the terms of bail, which had seen him living in a Leeds hostel. Bateman, of Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate, told the court he wanted help with his addiction and his solicitor Geoffrey Rogers said he was prepared to comply with the DTTO rules. Mr Rogers said: "He wants the benefits of an order. He thinks that is the best thing for him.

"He wants to prove to everybody concerned that he can comply with a DTTO - to prove that he does have the commitment."

Presiding magistrate Ivan Lester told Bateman he would be given one last chance. Mr Lester said: "You are 19 years old and the way things stand at the moment you have a lifestyle of drug addiction and criminal behaviour which will lead you to prison for increasingly long periods. Whether or not that happens is entirely in your hands over the next few weeks.

"This is your last chance to get off this cycle of offending and drug-taking. I can tell you that there is help available, but whether you respond is up to you. I urge you to take the chance you are being given."

The hearing was adjourned until Friday to see if Bateman would keep his DTTO appointment, which was scheduled for this afternoon.