A homeless man who stole to feed his heroin habit escaped a prison sentence yesterday, when a court told him he was being given a big chance to put his life in order.

Stuart John Harris-Jones was put on probation for two years by Harrogate magistrates after admitting eight charges of theft, with another taken into consideration, and breaching a conditional discharge.

Harris-Jones, 21, who used to live in Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, and at a town hostel, was told by court chairman Mary Tennant he had got himself into too much trouble.

Geoffrey Rogers, mitigating, said probation would help him find a home, and he would receive help with his addiction.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, said Harris-Jones had targeted shops in the centre of Harrogate for his theft.