A MOTHER and former drug addict has been given five months to prove she has turned over a new leaf.

Andrea Taylor, 22, was injecting amphetamine and associating with another addict when she raided her next door neighbour's home three-and-a-half years ago. Her barrister told Burnley Crown Court she had put crime behind her, but a judge said he didn't have as much confidence.

Taylor had sentence deferred until September 17, by Judge Raymond Bennett, who said the appropriate penalty for house burglary was custody. He went on: "I am sure the victim will expect that the person responsible will go to prison, but I don't feel it's right to do that with you."

Taylor, of Kinross Street, Burnley, admitted burglary at the house on Airdrie Crescent, Burnley, in December, 1995.

Nick Simmonds, prosecuting, told the court the householder came home to find her property had been broken into, ransacked and blood all over the staircase. Property had been stolen. In April, last year, blood samples taken in Edinburgh and DNA tests proved Taylor likely to be the burglar.

Robert Crawford, defending, said in December ,1995, Taylor was living life as a 'junkie,' injecting amphetamine. Now, she had a home of her own, a toddler and the man who took part in the burglary with her had now died after having an epileptic fit while in Preston Prison.

He went on: "She has completely rebuilt her life. Many people will say they are going to put drugs behind them, but this young lady seems to have achieved it. The defendant has a decent family behind her. Her family helps her and stands by her."

Mr Crawford added: "She has now rejoined society and realised the sort of life she was living did not have any future in it. It is very unlikely she will re-offend."

Mr Crawford told the court: "When the defendant was 18, she was a lost cause but is now far from that. She is a responsible mother, bringing up a child. She has put a dreadful start in life behind her and earned the opportunity to be given a chance."

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