A DRUG addict who stole more than £4,000 from his grandmother to feed his addiction was jailed for 15 months yesterday.

Jobless Andrew Johnson, 22, was already on probation for cashing two of her cheques, but his grandmother, Mary Johnson, 67, and her husband, Richard, who were his only family, allowed him to continue to live at their home.

Johnson paid £1,000 of his grandmother's money into his bank account, but the couple said they felt dominated by him, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Then she discovered that her Halifax Visa card had been taken from her coat pocket overnight and she reported it missing to the police and the Halifax.

Johnson returned to the house at midday and she checked her coat and found that the card had been replaced, said prosecutor Chris Williamson.

The bank told her that the card had been used to withdraw a total of £4,200 between 12 June and 29 June.

There were 13 withdrawals of £300, one of £200 and one of £100.

Johnson was arrested on July 3 and he said that he had memorised the PIN number.

Police released him on bail and he stole a computer worth £279 from Asda, Spennymoor, which he sold for £70 to pay off drug debts.

Johnson had 22 previous convictions for 60 offences.

He had been jailed for seven months for possession of cocaine and heroin, and shoplifting. He also had a conviction for actual bodily harm assault on his grandmother.

Adrian Dent, defending, said that the Johnson's thefts were caused by his drug addiction and drug debts.

Johnson, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, was jailed for 15 months after he pleaded guilty to seven thefts and the shoplifting, with nine further thefts and an attempt in June and July taken into consideration.