A FORMER heroin addict was told to expect a prison sentence after he was found guilty of stealing more than £200 from a disabled woman.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court found Stephen Kitching, 22, guilty of stealing the money from cerebral palsy sufferer Sandra Roland.

During the trial, the jury heard that Kitching, of Barnard Avenue, Ludworth, had gone to Mrs Roland's Spennymoor home on September 27, last year, to offer her an ornament for sale.

Mrs Roland told the jury she had placed £255 in cash into a folder in front of her when Kitching was in the house, but some of it had spilled out.

She said she bought the ornament from Kitching for £3 and he had left.

However, she said, he returned minutes later and said he had more to sell to her, but instead grabbed the folder and ran off.

Kitching had denied the offence of theft and said he had been in Stockton with a friend to buy heroin at the time the money was stolen.

Judge Michael Taylor told Kitching to expect a custodial sentence for this "mean and serious offence". Sentence was adjourned for reports