Drug addict is given a ‘last chance’

8:08pm Monday 3rd March 2008

A man hooked on opiates has been given a "last chance" by Bingley magis-trates to get his life in order.

Christian Pearson was facing a lifetime in and out of prison if he failed to beat drugs, he was told by presiding magistrate Mark Taylor at Bingley Court, yesterday.

Pearson, 27, of West Lane, Keighley, admitted the theft of two cans of special brew from Morrisons in Keighley, on March 1, and receiving a stolen satellite navigation machine on the same day.

Prosecutor Claire Larton said he was seen to walk out of the supermarket with the beer and was stopped by staff. At the police station he was found in possession of the sat-nav equipment.

Pearson's lawyer, Moham-med Hussain, said his client had managed to keep free of drugs when on a previous community order.

He said: "There is a problem with drugs again. He has a good brain and has possibilities to make some-thing of his life if he just engages it."

Pearson, who is also facing an offence of disorderly behaviour committed last month, to which he has pleaded not guilty, was remanded on conditional bail until March 25, for a probation report to be compiled.