A heroin addict stole money from his grandmother.

Adam Tibbenham took a total of £465 from his Clacton gran, magistrates were told.

Colchester Court heard Isabelle Tibbenham kept a large amount of money in rolls of banks notes in plastic bags in a drawer in her bedroom.

Mike Fraser, prosecuting, said Mrs Tibbenham had noticed a "large sum" had gone missing on January 21 and Tibbenham had access to her home.

He added: "She found £400 had been stolen. She then challenged Adam about this and at the time Adam admitted stealing the £400."

Later that day, the grandmother wanted to put some money in her handbag and she discovered a further £60 had been taken, Mr Fraser added.

On February 22 Mrs Tibbenham noticed pension book counterfoils had been stamped on January 25 and 29 when the sum of £121.90 had been cashed on each occasion, he said.

Mr Fraser said: "Mrs Tibbenham was aware she had not been to the post office on either of those days and had not cashed the money. She also checked her purse and found £5 missing.

"Mrs Tibbenham has said Adam has a drug habit and she tried to give him moral support in the past and hopes to do so in the future."

Tibbenham, 20, of Little Waldingfield, near Sudbury, admitted three charges of theft and two of using a false instrument at an earlier hearing. Magistrates deferred sentence on condition that Tibbenham should remain drug free, not reoffend and apply for a residential rehabilitation unit.

He had further admitted a breach of a probation order which was allowed to continue.

Paul Tawn, mitigating, said: "He has had a somewhat chaotic period in his life as most heroin addicts do."

He added Tibbenham's mother and grandmother, who were both in court to support him, were willing to give him another chance.

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