A HEROIN addict breached his community order because he could not afford to pay for transport to a probation appointment.

Father-of-two Mark Conway, of St Agathas Road in Pershore, was made subject to a 12-month community order in August after he was caught stealing bottles of spirits from the town's Co-op store.

The order requires the 25-year-old to carry out 60 hours of unpaid community work, but he did not attend the interview with a probation officer.

The court was told he was at a funeral, but then he failed to attend a second interview.

Probation officer Kirsty Smith, prosecuting, said: "He's made no effort to contact the office and explain these absences. He's not completed any hours."

Mark Lister, defending, said: "It will come as no surprise to you that Mark Conway is a heroin addict and that is what is behind his offending.

"There was a point at the time at which he was sentenced that his benefits were stopped for 10 weeks. After his benefits were in place he buried his head in the sand."

The order was revoked and the case was adjourned for re-sentencing on Thursday, February 7.

Conway was given conditional bail following Wednesday's hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court.