A SELF-CONFESSED drug addict, already serving a prison sentence for robbery, was given another month-long jail term yesterday after he admitted stealing from his parents.

Magistrates in Richmond were told that aware of their son's problems, Curtis Crawford's parents locked internal doors of their home on Green Syke Way, in Northallerton, when they went out on August 5.

However, on their return, they found someone had forced their way into the master bedroom and had stolen a cheque.

As the exterior doors were still intact, 22-year-old Crawford seemed the most likely suspect and, when interviewed by police, he admitted the theft, confirming he cashed the cheque and used the money to buy drugs.

In mitigation, solicitor Alan Meehan pointed out the case had only taken so long to be heard because of the court's workload and, had it not been, the burglary charge could have been dealt with when Crawford was sentenced for robbery.

As a result, magistrates agreed to a minimum sentence and Crawford was told the additional month in jail would run concurrently with the sentence he is already serving.