A drug addict Bristol burglar has been given the chance of rehabilitation and told that a prison cell awaits if he fails.

Judge Michael Harington could have jailed Jason Painter for a minimum of three years under the "three strikes" rule after he admitted his third house break-in.

But the judge, who described burglars as a menace, told Bristol Crown Court he would take an exceptional course in order to get Painter treated and off crime.

He said: "If you do come back for breaching the order you will be back in prison, completing the sentence you richly deserve. Addiction has been the curse of your life and others as a result."

Painter was handed a community order with 18 months of supervision and nine months of drugs rehab with Bristol Drugs Project.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said in November last year Painter and an accomplice burgled a house in Gratitude Road, Greenbank, as the family slept upstairs.

Items including a camera, guitar, driving licences, tools, cash, phones and a laptop computer were stolen.

Police found Painter's fingerprints on the front door.

Mr Posner said that, a week later, Painter burgled a second-storey flat in Gadshill Road, Eastville, helping himself to a £1,000 TV, handbag, coat and even a bottle of Ribena fruit drink.

Once again, police detected his fingerprints.

The court heard Painter was arrested, interviewed and remained silent when questioned.

Released on police bail, in March he was spotted poking his arm through a letter box to a home in Eastwood Crescent, Brislington, and then trying doors before police arrested him.

Painter, a Class A drug addict since the age of 13, admitted his intention had been to steal and his motivation was to feed his drug addiction.

Fergus Currie, defending, said his client conceded that even though he had only put his arm through a letter box it qualified as a full burglary.

Mr Currie said that, having been released from a previous jail term, his client had been lined up to stay at a Bristol dry house but failed drug tests and was not admitted.

He told the court his client was now providing negative drug tests and appreciated his real test would be when he was released from his remand in custody into the outside world.