A Bristol burglar, drug addict and father-to-be cried with gratitude as he was given a chance to sort his life out and make a future with his partner and new baby.

Karl White had burgled a community centre, taken a car without consent and put fuel in the vehicle that he didn't pay for, all to fund his drugs habit.

The 25-year-old, who is of no fixed address, and has previous convictions for burglary and theft, was told he deserved to go to jail for the offences, but was given a second chance after proving he was motivated to change.

He admitted one charge of burglary, one charge of making off without payment and one charge of taking a vehicle without consent, and was handed a two-year community order during which he will receive drug rehabilitation.

Mary Cowe, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, said White was caught in a yellow Audi that had been taken without consent at the Asda petrol station in Patchway on April 11 this year.

She said the defendant put £20.03 of fuel in the vehicle but then drove off without paying.

Staff noted the registration number and it was matched to an Audi that had been stolen from a driveway in St Andrews the previous evening.

Ms Cowe said White then burgled the Greenway Community Centre in Southmead on May 18.

She said the business and leisure facility included an adult learning centre that the defendant raided, stealing five computers worth £300 each and eight monitors worth £75 each.

He had also smashed windows and taken keys to the building.

CCTV footage revealed him entering the building at 9pm and trying different door handles then stacking up items before leaving through a fire exit.

Sarah Regan, defending, said her client's case had provoked a lot of consideration by the Probation Service which recommended the community order.

White sobbed with gratitude as Judge Michael Roach handed him the community order that will include drug rehabilitation.

He said: "You know well enough by now that if you commit offences like this you will go to prison and in many ways that's where you ought to go, but on the other hand you have made some serious efforts to sort yourself out.

"If you are motivated I want to encourage you."

He added: "For the first nine months you will live at Christmas dry house and follow the drug order. If you do you will have a future with your girlfriend and baby."