Stourbridge junkie jailed for raids to fuel his habit (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge junkie jailed for raids to fuel his habit

2:33pm Tuesday 28th June 2011 in News

A STOURBRIDGE junkie has been jailed for 28 months after he carried out three burglaries to fuel his habit.

Heroin addict John Shillingford, aged 25, raided the home of a mother-of-four in Willenhall and stole property including a games console and Easter eggs bought for her children.

But it was only after he was arrested for another burglary where he left his DNA on a milk bottle that Shillingford confessed to the earlier raid.

Shillingford, who also admitted raiding a third house, told officers he wanted to "clean the slate" and start afresh on his release from custody.

Warren Stanier prosecuting told Wolverhampton Crown Court there was no evidence to link him with the Willenhall raid and, without his admissions, the crime would not have been solved.

He added Shillingford got into the Willenhall property through an insecure rear window and he also grabbed the keys to the owner's parked car before stealing the vehicle.

Shillingford, now of no fixed address, admitted burglary and he asked for the two other raids to be taken into consideration.

Judge John Wait told him it was his "long standing drug abuse" that was behind his offending and added: "As you know drugs can only lead to a miserable existence”.

He went on: "It is to your credit that you have realised it and you appear now to be addressing your problems."

Oliver Woolhouse, for Shillingford, said his client was now determined to put his life in order and stay well away from the drug scene.