A DRUG addict burglar freed from jail may still face at least a three-year sentence.

Repeat offender Kelly Anderson, 24, of Grays Cross, Sunderland, appealed to Mr Recorder Norris at Newcastle Crown Court to lift a jail sentence imposed on October 10 by Sunderland Magistrates.

Paul Cross, mitigating, said the magistrates ordered Anderson be jailed for nine months for theft of cheque books and a debit card.

Anderson had appeared before Newcastle Crown Court in September, for burglary, and was told she faced at least three years in jail because she had been found guilty of her third dwelling house burglary.

But sentence was adjourned until October 3.

In the meantime, she appeared before South Tyneside magistrates charged with shoplifting, and was ordered to complete a drug treatment and testing order.

When she appeared back before Judge David Hodson in October, he decided not to send Anderson to jail until she had been given the chance to complete her order and deferred sentence for the burglaries until January 30. But a week later, Anderson was dealt with by Sunderland magistrates and went to jail.

Mr Recorder Norris allowed Anderson's appeal.

He said: "The only right and proper thing to do is to allow this appeal and defer this sentence also until January 30.

"If she does not make progress on her order, she is at risk of a three-year mandatory sentence for her third domestic burglary.

"It is a case of three strikes and you are out."