A RECOVERING addict who burgled a house to pay for drugs has been spared jail.

Tanya Lynn Waters, 22, of Elland Court, Darlington, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and two counts of shoplifting at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

On April 13, she stole a television and hi-fi from a house in Station Road, Darlington, after being allowed to spend the night there.

A pre-sentence report on Waters, a persistent offender, suggested a prison sentence.

But her solicitor, Stephen Andrews, said a community-based penalty may be better.

Greta Foulds, the chairman of the magistrates, said the probation service should consider a drug treatment and testing order. Sentencing was adjourned until November 11.