A HEROIN user who committed a string of thefts to feed his addiction has been told he faces prison if he breaches a court order to seek treatment.

Christopher Weir admitted thefts involving thousands of pounds worth of goods, from stores in his home town of Bishop Auckland, as well as Crook, Spennymoor, and further afield.

But Sedgefield magistrates, sitting at Newton Aycliffe, yesterday, spared 28-year-old Weir from a term in prison and instead imposed a 12-month drug treatment and testing order.

In June, Weir was given a 12- month conditional discharge for a theft he committed in March.

David Wilkinson, prosecuting, told the court Weir had breached the discharge by offending again. Weir, of Cheshire Place, Bishop Auckland, admitted attempting to burgle WH Smith in the town, in August.

Mr Wilkinson said Weir had been found by police with another man after jemmies were discovered at the back of the store.

In July, Weir was caught after leaving Sainsbury's, in Pity Me, having taken £256.53 worth of goods without paying. He also stole £182 worth of ornamental china from the Co-op store, in Bishop Auckland.

In the same month, he broke into Northern Electric offices, stealing four PlayStation consoles, two PlayStation 2s and two Hitachi digital video disc players, worth a total of £1,559.92.

The following month, he was caught on closed-circuit television in the Spennymoor Co-op store stealing DVDs. He also used a hacksaw to break into Currys, in Bishop Auckland, stealing goods worth £1,171.39.

In September, Weir, who was unemployed, had entered the Factory Shop, in Crook, and stolen two pairs of Rockport boots, estimated to be worth £148.

He admitted an attempted burglary, four thefts, two burglaries and breaching the terms of his conditional discharge. He also admitted failing to surrender to bail, and asked for two other burglary offences, comitted in July and August, to be taken into consideration.

After reading a probation report, magistrates made no order for costs or compensation, and said that failure to comply with the rehabilitation order would mean a prison sentence for Weir.