A MAN stole gold rings from a friend's house to pay for his heroin addiction, a court heard.

David Bennett was hooked on the drug and stole six gold rings worth £200 so that he could buy drugs.

But he was caught soon after the theft and made a full and frank admission to the theft of the rings.

Bennett, aged 20, of Marlborough Street, off Chorley New Road, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday for sentence. He admitted one count of theft.

Judge Elliott Knopf decided to give Bennett one last chance and agreed to give him a 12 month Drug Testing and Treatment Order.

When arrested Bennett told police that he had carried out the theft because of his heroin addiction. The rings had not been recovered.