A TEENAGER who had a "promising future" stole his widowed father's credit cards and went on a £2,000 spending spree to fund his drug habit.

Timothy Green took his father Peter's three credit cards on Sunday, September 9, before withdrawing £1,400 from cash machines and spending hundreds in shops across Worcester, Droitwich Magistrates Court was told.

He also bought items from Argos, Woolworths and sports shops in the city, totalling nearly £800, with the stolen cards, masquerading as his father, said Mark Soper, prosecuting yesterday.

He was also charged with theft, criminal damage and deception relating to different incidents.

The court was told 19-year-old Green was sentenced to three years in prison in 1999, after committing an armed robbery.

He also had previous convictions for possession of cannabis and heroin and firearms offences.

His father appeared in court, and urged magistrates to do what they thought was best for Green and society in general.

Joe Kieran, defending, described how Green, of Spring Hill, Tallow Hill, Worcester, was a good student with a bright future before he committed the robbery, but had gone off the rails.

He had also developed a serious heroin habit, and had sold off all his possessions to fuel it before turning to crime in desperation.

But during the 20 days he had spent in custody waiting for a court appearance, he had kicked the habit and was now "clean".

"He was in a deeply desperate situation," said Mr Kieran. "However serious the offending which has brought him before the courts, his father wants him to realise the family support will never be lost."

Green admitted six counts of obtaining property by deception, three of theft, and one of criminal damage, and asked for 14 more to be taken into consideration.

He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order, 60-hour community punishment order, and was ordered to pay £100 court costs and £1,080 compensation.