A court which deals only with drug-related crime has opened in Bristol.

Bristol was chosen as one of four areas suitable for a 18-month pilot of a court that would deal exclusively with drug users, dealers and those who commit crimes to feed their addictions.

The drug court will be held every Tuesday in Bristol Magistrates' Court.

The Ministry of Justice hailed earlier trials in London and Leeds as a success, claiming the pilots led to improved attendance, lower reconviction rates and a reduction in the likelihood of offenders failing drug tests.

There were 20 defendants listed to appear at Bristol's drug court on Tuesday.

A team of specially-trained magistrates are in place to sentence those responsible for drugs offences, monitor their progress and ensure they stick to community punishments.

Despite several delays, caused by defendants arriving late or failing to turn up, the court managed to deal with seven in the first three hours of the morning session.

Kevin Coyle, 29, of Bartholomew Gardens, Horfield, was sent to prison for 16 weeks after admitting interfering with a car with intent to steal and two counts of failing to surrender to Bristol Magistrates' Court while on bail.

Coyle, who had been released from prison the day before the offence, admitted getting into a Fiat Bravo which was broken into in Bedminster on August 10.

Items including an MP3 player and a sat-nav system were taken but Coyle, whose fingerprints were found on a charger inside the footwell, told the court there was nothing left to steal when he got into the car.

Police carried out a drugs test on Coyle after arresting him, which showed positive readings for cocaine and opiates.

Steve George, defending, said Coyle had recently been clear of drugs and had been working with the Criminal Justice Intervention Team.

"He knows he needs to get to grips with his addiction which has led to the offending," he said.

But magistrates ruled him too unreliable to be placed on a drug rehabilitation programme and decided prison would be a better option.

Joseph Meroysis, 23, of Cutler Road, Withywood, was given a 12-month community order with six months of drug rehabilitation after he admitted three counts of shoplifting.

Meroysis admitted stealing three bottles of Champagne worth £95 from Sainsbury's in Clifton, aftershave worth £64 from Debenhams in Broadmead and canned fish worth £204 from Somerfield in Gloucester Road.

He tested positive for cocaine and opiates following his most recent arrest.

Meroysis was getting his life back on track before the spate of thefts – working as a labourer at Cabot Circus and getting a girlfriend – but spiralled back into drug addiction when his relationship broke down.

He was clean again after four weeks in prison and had ambitions to join the Bridge programme addiction service at the Salvation Army hostel in St Jude's.

The chairman of the magistrates' bench said: "The drug rehabilitation is not an easy option. You will be tested every two weeks and your progress will be reviewed in court every four weeks.

"I know the benefits won't start immediately but I don't want to see you drop off this tightrope you are on."

Meroysis told the court: "I will stick to the drug rehabilitation programme because I don't want to be 30 or 40 and still taking drugs. I realise I need help."

As well as sentencing two defendants, magistrates issued warrants for arrest to three defendants who failed to turn up and dealt with three people brought in from other courts who failed to pay fines.

Two defendants who denied being in breach of their drug treatment programmes were ordered to return to the court at later dates to face trials.

Last year the Ministry of Justice said Bristol was chosen for the trial – with Salford, Barnsley and Cardiff – because JPs and the probation service in the city welcomed the idea and because there was enough drug crime to make Bristol worthy of the pilot.

The court, which started on January 6, does not deal with youths convicted of drugs offences or people accused of the most serious drugs offences, which are still handled at Bristol Crown Court.

Under the pilot, one magistrates' bench deals with the same offenders from sentencing through to the monitoring of any drug rehabilitation orders.

One of the main aims of the scheme in Bristol is to ensure more offenders are motivated to take part in treatment programmes.