A MAN who burgled the Worcester home of a woman he knew has been jailed for 18 months.

Jason Curtis stole £135, a purse and a box of medicines after forcing a door panel.

His fingerprints were found by police at the point of entry at the house in Drake Avenue.

The householder discovered the break-in after returning home with her daughter on May 28 last year.

Curtis, aged 25, of Essex Close, Worcester, pleaded guilty to burglary shortly before his trial was due to begin.

The heroin addict had a conviction for manslaughter in 1994, and had served a three-year sentence in a young offenders' institution, prosecutor Andrew Evans told Worcester Crown Court.

Judge Michael Mott said the house raid was "a particularly mean offence" considering Curtis knew the victim.

The defendant was given a drug treatment and testing order last year following a number of shoplifting offences. But it had been revoked.

Jason Aris, defending, said Curtis found it difficult to stay away from drugs when released from terms of custody and the habit led to more crime.

He was determined to kick the addiction while serving his latest sentence.