A drug addict who helped himself to every penny his mother had and took her belongings is facing jail.

Burnley magistrates heard how jobless Imran Sadiq, 35, emptied the victims post office account to fund his £200-a-week heroin habit.

The defendant, who had not long been out of prison and was on licence, also pinched his mothers mobile phone, microwave and washing machine, striking after she had got up early to pray.

Sadiq, whose conduct had left his mother 'broken' sold the washer for £40 and bought £20 of heroin and £20 of crack cocaine. He also blew all of his £50-a-week benefits on drugs.

The defendant, now of no fixed address, admitted theft and asked for another offence to be considered.

He was committed in custody for sentence to Burnley Crown Court after the bench said the theft merited custody.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, told the court Sadiq had been staying with his mother after his release and, for nine months, he had asked her for money and been abusive to her.

On May 16, his mother went to the post office to discover her account was empty.

When she returned home, she found her mobile phone was missing along with her microwave.

Sadiq returned about 7pm and admitted taking the £31 she had in her account as he needed it to buy drugs.

Mrs Sadiq told her son how upset she was and how his behaviour was breaking her and he then went to his room to take drugs.

Mrs Read said the next morning the victim got up early to pray as she always did and later found the defendant had stolen her washing machine.

She reported the theft to the police and Sadiq later handed himself in.

The defendant told police he had taken his mothers bank card from her handbag.

He told officers he had a £30-a-day heroin addiction.

Mrs Read said the defendant had an extensive criminal record and had served prison sentences.

He had just been released from a two-year term for offences including procuring a woman to become a prostitute.

It did not expire until January 2006.

The prosecutor added Mrs Sadiq was saddened by her sons behaviour, had reached the end of her tether and was no longer able to give him a home.

John Nuttall, defending, said he did not think the offence against his mother was a breach of trust but it was aggravated by the fact he had been on licence and had previous convictions.