A RECOVERING alcoholic relapsed after discovering the body of a dead friend, a court was told.

John Tilley turned to drink after he found his neighbour, a heroin addict who had overdosed, dead at home. The body had been there for two days. The ordeal had a “profound affect” on Tilley who, a few weeks later, was arrested for stealing chocolates in order to buy alcohol.

The 40-year-old, of Meadow Sweet Court, Malvern, pleaded guilty to shoplifting when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

“Mr Tilley was previously married but now lives on his own,” said Mark Lister, defending. “He had a friend who lived below him. That friend was a heroin addict and sadly, shortly before this incident, his friend overdosed. He was there for two days before Mr Tilley went into the flat and discovered him there, crouched and deceased.

“It’s had a profound affect upon Mr Tilley, who was already suffering from depression, and it meant that he turned back to the use of alcohol as a means of taking him to oblivion.”

Tilley was last in court in July last year for stealing a handbag. Lisa Mayne, prosecuting, told the court how the victim’s bag was snatched from a pushchair and Tilley, who took the mobile phone that was inside, had discarded the rest of its contents.

He was given a two-year conditional disorder for the offence.

Mr Lister urged the magistrates to note that Tilley had not been in trouble since.

“The theft [of chocolate] was a blip,” said Mr Lister.

“He has made significant progress.”

Tilley was sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge for shoplifting and ordered to pay £7 compensation. He was fined £100 for stealing the handbag and will also pay £85 costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

l Your Worcester News was the only member of the media at this hearing