A family clubbed together to help 38-year-old Neil Roberts beat his heroin addiction, a court heard.

They even took out a loan for him to leave the Grays area and move to Bournemouth, Dorset.

But before he left the area Roberts was caught by police with heroin, valued at more than £5,400.

He threw the packet of drugs on a grass verge when officers approached him in Broxburn Drive, South Ockendon, prosecutor Allan Compton told Basildon Crown Court.

Mr Compton said Roberts, of Crofton Road, Grays, had previous convictions for drug-related offences, shoplifting and car crime.

Roberts's barrister, Mark Milliken-Smith, said the offence happened in January and the defendant now had a genuine desire to end his drug habit.

Mr Milliken-Smith explained that Roberts had suffered badly because of drugs and among his disabilities were chronic depression and insomnia.

Roberts, who pleaded guilty to possessing the class A drug, agreed with Judge Frank Lockhart to undergo a drugs treatment and testing order for 18 months.

This will allow his progress to get off heroin to be closely monitored by the probation service.

The judge warned Roberts if he did not co-operate with probation officers over the order, he would return to court and face a prison sentence of up to 15 months.

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

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