A burglar has avoided a jail sentence after a judge decided to give him a chance to break his heroin addiction.

Kevin Flynn, 34, of Marigold Close, Greater Leys, admitted carrying out burglaries at Campbell Road and Cowley Road, Oxford, on April 4 this year.

Nigel Daly, prosecuting, said Flynn was disturbed by the owner of the Cowley Road property while trying to break in.

He then managed to enter the Campbell Road address through a kitchen window, but was almost caught by the owner.

The defendant was later caught by police carrying the two screwdrivers he used in the burglaries.

Yesterday, at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Anthony King sentenced Flynn to a two-year community rehabilitation order on condition he live at a drug treatment centre in Weston-Super-Mare.

He also ordered reports of Flynn's progress be sent to him every three months, and said he would go to jail if he breached the conditions.

Judge King said he was "just persuaded" to spare Flynn jail after Paul Reid, defending, told the court that his client had made attempts to get off heroin and had undergone drug rehabilitation at the Ley Community in Yarnton.

Judge King told Flynn he would go to jail for three years for the two burglaries if he re-offended.