A DRUG addict looking to beat his habit went to the "last place on earth" you would expect to sort himself out -- Amsterdam.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that Lee Williams' health cure in the drugs capital of the continent had been a complete success.

And Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client stood before the court five years down the line clean of heroin and still living an industrious life in the Netherlands.

He said Williams had been arrested as he travelled home to be reunited with his family, especially his elderly grandmother and was now keen to wipe the slate completely clean.

Williams, 29, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing tools worth £922 in March 1996 and driving while disqualified and without insurance in June 1998.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £100 and ordered to pay £500 compensation and £75 costs.

Williams asked for 28 days to pay in full.

Mr Church-Taylor, said Williams was arrested after passing through customs on the French side of the Channel Tunnel.

There was a warrant out for his arrest on the disqualified driving offence and the theft had been put to him as a result of DNA evidence.

It was the first time the theft had been put to his client but he was keen to leave court with nothing hanging over him.

"You have before you someone who can be described as a success story and as far as heroin is concerned those are few and far between," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said Williams had worked for his father as a ground worker after leaving school and there had been no problems until he was introduced to heroin.

The drug took hold of him and eventually his father had to let him go because he had become a liability.

When he no longer had employment to finance his addiction Williams turned to crime and ended up receiving a 15-month prison sentence.

After his release Williams steered clear of drugs for only a short time.

"It took the deaths of two close friends as a result of drug addiction to make him say enough is enough," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"He left with a one way plane ticket to Holland and £15 in his pocket and he has not looked back since."

He said as Williams arrived at the Dutch airport he met someone making the return journey who had been working in the building trade.

"He asked for a contact, made a call from the airport and within two days he had started work," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"It might seem that Amsterdam, with its reputation for drugs, might be the last place on earth to go to rid yourself of a heroin addiction but that is exactly what my client did.

"He has not been home since 1998 and decided he wanted to be reconciled with his family."