A THIEF who snatched a woman's handbag when she put it down in a takeaway has been spared jail.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Peter Hodgson-Smith, 24, was now working and trying to kick his drug habit.

A judge said custody for a short time would take him away from the positi-ves and put him at greater risk of offending behavi-our.

The defendant, of Melrose Avenue, Burnley, admitted theft on May 13.

He was given a commun-ity order with 18 months supervision and the Think First programme. He must pay £55.95 compensation.

Sentencing, Judge Angela Nield told Hodgson-Smith he had come close to facing a robbery charge and she had thought very carefully about sending him to prison.

She said the fact the defendant had made efforts to address his problems had saved him from custody.

The judge said despite a difficult background and both drink and drugs problems he appeared to have shown victim empathy. He had now referred himself to the community drugs team and was on a subutex programme.

Martin Hackett, defening, said the defendant's last offence was in 2002 and he was at a loss to explain why he committed the theft.