by Julia Roberts

A heroin addict was cleared of burglary - and then promptly jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Anthony Walker, 26, from Sheerness, was found not guilty by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court of breaking into a house in Priory Road, Faversham, in November last year.

The seven women and five men, who deliberated their verdict for less than half an hour, already knew that Walker had admitted another burglary just 11 days earlier in Main Road, Queenborough.

They had also been told during Walker's trial of his previous convictions for dishonesty.

But, by acquitting Walker, Judge Michael Lawson QC said they had demonstrated their ability to discern.

"The fact you knew didn't lead you to take the view that the evidence in the case was stronger than it was," he added.

At the end of his trial, Walker, of Queenborough Road, Minster, asked for three offences of shoplifting and one of a non-dwelling burglary to be taken into account.

The £1,500 worth of goods stolen included a television, camera, cigarettes and lead from a roof.

Because of his previous convictions, the offence of burglary he admitted made him subject to a minimum three-year jail term.

Passing sentence, Judge Lawson said: "Whatever your addiction may be you are certainly capable of committing burglaries and thefts of substantial value. You clearly have a nose for earning money in this way.

"But at some stage you are going to have to come to terms with your habit and resolve your difficulties with heroin and take responsibility for your ations."

Walker will serve half his sentence less 136 days already spent on remand.