A man who took tea with a couple whose house he had broken into received a two year drug treatment and testing order when he appeared at court last week for sentence.

Darren Dawson, 37, of no fixed address, but formerly of Stubbs Lane, Braintree, admitted burglary at the house in Mill Lane, Broomfield, when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 7.

At that hearing Alex Agebamu, prosecuting, said the Broomfield couple left home for a few hours and were shocked to find Dawson sitting at their table when they got back.

He had helped himself to a snack and they offered him tea while waiting for the police to arrive.

When the police did not turn up they were phoned again and Dawson spoke to them.

Nick Ham for Dawson said he committed the offence because he was desperate for help for his drug problem.

Published Monday May 24, 2004

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