A BURGLAR who spent all of his benefit money on drugs has been banned by a judge from using cannabis for a year as part of his sentence.

The judge told William Box he was not encouraging him to take up cannabis again, but that he had to put a fixed term on the condition.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told Box, 22, who had been sleeping rough in the Colchester area for four months after his mother threw him out, twice burgled Sloppy Joe’s, in the High Street, Colchester.

Judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC was told Box’s grandmother had now offered him a home with her in Parkwood Avenue, Wivenhoe.

As a result, he said he had been persuaded not to send him to prison.

He was also told Box no longer planned to touch cannabis.

The judge imposed a two-year community order, which included a condition he should not take cannabis for 12 months.

He said: “I want this man to be sensible and sort his life out and keep away from cannabis.

“Keep away from it. It will not do you any good.”

Box was also given a supervision requirement for two years, told to complete a thinking skills programme and do 100 hours unpaid work.

Box admitted burglary at Sloppy Joe’s on July 3 and July 4 this year.

Mark Lakin, prosecuting, said Box broke in on successive days, with a co-accused on the second occasion, and stole clothing belonging to staff members.

Katy Longan, mitigating, said he had refused the daily offers of crack while on remand in prison.

She added: “He knows what he has been doing is pathetic.”