A STOURBRIDGE drug addict who carried on raiding homes in the area after blowing the chance to put his life back in order has been locked up for three years.

Lewis Billingham was one of three criminals chosen to take part in a scheme to help rid their lives of Class A drugs, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 25-year-old, who had burgled 20 homes in the area to get money to fuel his habit, promised he would stick with the requirements of the programme - Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, told the court.

But he continually tested positive for drugs after moving to a new home out of the area to keep him away from dealers who had drugs to sell in Stourbridge.

He also sold a TV set he had been given at the property to help him in what was hoped to be the start of a new life and he cut off his GPS tag and disappeared, added Mr Dann.

Billingham, of Wynall Lane, Wollescote, was finally arrested by police officers armed with a warrant and held in custody having been allowed bail when his sentence was deferred for four months to get him to engage with the offenders' drug programme.

Mr Dann said Billingham had revealed to police the addresses of the 20 homes he burgled in the area between August and September last year.

It was his co-operation that led to him being given the chance to resolve his problems and work towards a more positive future.

But he then committed more crimes and is now serving a substantial time behind bars while the two other criminals given the same chance have seized the opportunity they were given.

Billingham admitted two burglaries and an attempted burglary and he asked for the 20 other raids to be taken into consideration.

Exdol Mitchell, defending, told the court there was "some hope" after Billingham behaved well on the first two days of the programme but he added: "It was not sustained."