A mother's plea for mercy saved her burglar son from jail when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court.

Craig Ivers broke into his mother's house and stole a PlayStation from his sister's bedroom which he sold to buy heroin.

He also stole four copies of football star Paul Gascoigne's autobiography from WH Smith.

Defence counsel Michael Conry said Ivers' mother, who was in the public gallery, did not want him jailed but was desperate for him to quit drugs.

Recorder James Burbidge QC said he deserved to be jailed for two years after failing to comply with a drug treatment and testing order in the past.

But he added: "You should be grateful that your mother wants to assist you."

He gave Ivers - who was celebrating his 21st birthday on the day he appeared for sentence - a 12-month community rehabilitation on condition he took part in an intensive change and control programme.

Ivers, of Loxley Close, Church Hill, must attend 23 sessions with the probation service and comply with a nightly curfew for 84 days. He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and theft.

Prosecutor Jennifer Josephs said Ivers walked into Smith's in the Kingfisher Centre on July 3 last year and was seen hiding two copies of Gazza My Story under his coat. He was detained outside, but dropped the books and ran off.

It was later discovered by police that he had earlier taken two more copies, selling them to a friend.

On September 6 he broke into his mum's house in Wishaw Close, Woodrow, probably getting in through a dog flap which was big enough to let an alsation in.

He sold the PlayStation for £40 and told police he stole it when he went to the house to get some clean clothes.

Mr Conry said although the drug treatment order was not a success, he was motivated to make the new order work because it was a direct alternative to custody.