A JUDGE yesterday questioned how an 18-year-old heroin addict was able to get access to the drug while on remand in Low Newton prison, near Durham.

Claire Duffy fell out with her family after "bleaching" them of cash and turned to crime to fund her addiction, Durham Crown Court was told.

Her barrister, Brian Russell, said this led to Duffy leaving home and resulted in her spending two-and-a-half weeks in custody at Low Newton - where she managed to get hold of heroin.

Judge Whitburn said it "beggars belief" that she was able to acquire heroin while on remand in custody.

He sympathised with her family's despair and adjourned sentence after hearing she may be considered suitable for a drug testing and treatment order, supervised by the probation service.

The court heard that Duffy resorted to burgling a house in her home village of Murton, east Durham, over Christmas to enable her to buy the drug.

She admitted a charge of burglary at the house in Brooklyn Terrace, between December 23 and 27, taking property worth £348.

"For the last two years she has been addicted to heroin and her mother is, quite frankly, at the end of her tether," said Mr Russell.

He presented a letter to the court from Duffy's family, which he described as, "a heart-rending plea for help".

"For a year-and-a-half she effectively was bleaching members of her family and only in recent months has she turned to crime to fund her addiction."

She was only released from Low Newton when her grandmother agreed to give Duffy accommodation, pending the court hearing.

But, having read the family letter, Judge Whitburn said: "It's very moving, and no one reading it could underestimate the scale of the problem and the despair they must feel."

He granted Duffy bail to the address, in The Avenue, Murton, on condition she attends Peterlee Drug Education Office for the testing and treatment order assessment.

Judge Whitburn warned Duffy she would go straight into custody if she failed to attend for the assessment.

Sentence was adjourned for six weeks, pending the outcome of the assessment.