A 33-YEAR-OLD Brierley Hill drug addict who made off with a gold chain snatched by a friend in a Dudley robbery has avoided jail time.

The victim left the Boots store when the second man grabbed his necklace and “when the opportunity presented itself” David Moore ran off - Gerry Bermingham, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He said it was accepted Moore did not know his friend was going to carry out the robbery and there had been “no plan to commit the crime”.

Moore, of Wilson Road, admitted theft and was told by Judge Martin Walsh it was still an extremely serious offence because he knew the stolen item had been taken in the robbery.

He said it was clear Moore had a “significant” criminal record and he warned him that if he breached the orders he was making he would go straight into custody

He gave Moore an 18-month jail term suspended for two years and placed him on supervision for two years with a condition that he attends a drug rehabilitation programme.

Graham Rodwell, defending, said Moore had not initiated the crime and he had reacted on “impulse” when his friend carried out the robbery.

He told the court Moore wanted to take steps to resolve his drug problem because he “knows if he carries on in this way he will kill himself”.

Mr Rodwell said there was a light at the end of the tunnel for Moore who had shown he was prepared to change his life.