A CHOCOLATE thief, who also handled tins of Cadbury's Roses, urged magistrates to give him a chance and got it.

The Burnley bench had been told heroin addict Brian Thomas Laird, 28, would "seize the opportunity with both hands," if given it.

Laird, of Athens View, Burnley, admitted theft and handling stolen goods and was also in breach of a conditional discharge. He was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Laird had had a lengthy and substantial heroin addiction which had been funded by shoplifting.

He had been in custody for two to three weeks.

When the defendant came out of prison last time, he was not on licence, did not have the supervision of the probation service and soon got back into his old ways.

He went back to Nelson, was not with his family and was not seeing his parents.

Mr Ireland said Laird ended up without accommodation , soon returned to heroin and, when that addiction became greater, he had to commit offences.

The solicitor added Laird had been given every chance in the past.

He had gone through "cold turkey," while in prison and now looked a lot better than he did three weeks ago.

His parents were prepared to provide him with a settled home and give him help and support.

Mr Ireland said the defendant had not been offered a chance for some time and would seize it with both hands.