An addict who targeted his own family to feed his drug addiction has been given a chance by a judge to avoid going to jail.

Steven O'Brien burgled his sister's home while she was on holiday and stole her car.

He also filled out one of his mother's blank cheques to obtain cash and stole £600 from his girlfriend by using her cash card, said Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

O'Brien, aged 40, of Felton Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and deception and asked for 17 other offences to be taken into consideration.

He still had 58 days to serve on a previous 18-month sentence passed by the same court last year for burglary and fraud after being released early on licence.

But Anthony Warner, defending, said he had made efforts to help himself by contacting the community drug team, his doctor and a psychiatrist.

Judge Michael Mott granted him bail until December 5 for assessment by the probation service over his suitability for a drug treatment and testing order.

Mr Shakoor said he stole four cheques from a Redditch company and obtained amounts of up to £540 by cashing them at Cash Converters in the town.

He broke into his sister's home in Redditch on July 24, and stole goods worth £2,541.

O'Brien also stole her Rover car and then sold it to a garage for £1,000.

The extra offences, which included conning his mother and girlfriend, amounted to £3,687.

Mr Warner said he should have shown the victims more respect. But his crimes were all in response to drug addiction.