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A HEROIN addict stole gold jewellery from his sister, sold it down the pub and used the money to buy drugs, a court heard today.

Ray Bragg, 40, stole two chains and a pair of earrings worth £300 in total from his sister while staying with her, Darlington Magistrates Court heard.

Peter Smith, prosecuting said his sister had found needles in her brother's room and realised he was taking heroin again.

She then checked her jewellery box and noticed the items were missing before reporting the theft to police, said Mr Smith.

Bragg told police he had sold the jewellery in the pub for £40 and used the money to buy drugs, Mr Smith added.

Mitigating, Laura Saunders-Jerom said the defendant was thoroughly ashamed of his actions.

"It (addiction) is something that grips you with a vice-like grip and entices you to do things which would normally be absolutely abhorrent, if you were straight-minded and not in need of a fix," she said.

She added he had sought help for his addiction after the incident on February 23.

Bragg, of Tom Raine Court, Darlington, pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £300 compensation.

6:03pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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