TWO heroin addicts with long criminal records have avoided jail after pleading guilty to theft.

Kenneth Andrew and John Murray were ordered to complete one-year drug treatment and testing orders and two-year community rehabilitation orders.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Andrew had been living in Grange Road, Darlington, when he visited a neighbour in October.

He went into a woman's bedroom and stole £600 that was hidden in a cushion cover.

After she discovered the theft, the victim felt unsafe in her home and went to stay at a friend's house for the night.

The next morning, she found that she had been burgled and a CD player had been stolen.

Blood found at the scene matched John Murray's.

The court heard that Murray and Andrew, 30, of Corporation Road, Darlington, blamed each other for the break-in, when interviewed by police.

Peter Makepeace, for Andrew, who had 52 previous convictions, said his client had an alcohol and heroin addiction but was receiving treatment.

Paul Cleasby, defending Murray, 24, of Minors Crescent, Darlington, said he was turning his life around and had not committed an offence for seven months.

He had 27 previous convictions for theft and minor offences.