THE TEARFUL girlfriend of a heroin addict who stole and conned her to fuel his drug habit faced him in court yesterday and spoke of her disgust, shock and horror at what he had been done to her.

Giving a victim impact statement at Gloucester Crown Court, Justine Randall from Rodborough said that 42-year-old Sean Hutchinson of London Road, Stroud had been "despicable" to have taken advantage of her.

Hutchinson had been convicted by Cheltenham magistrates on September 15 of three offences of fraud and three of theft but the case was adjourned until October 27 for sentence when the court learned of another count of theft from a dwelling.

Fighting back the tears, Ms Randall said, from the witness stand: "This has left me in shock that my boyfriend could have deceived me in such a way.

"I am left in a state of mistrust and feel vulnerable and I am ashamed that I could have been so naïve.

"I have no money left in my bank account and have difficulty making ends meet and will never be able to trust a bank again.

"I feel angry and disgusted that he could have done this to his girlfriend and cannot believe that I have been manipulated in this way, although I do feel sorry for him.

"All this has been absolutely horrible."

His Honour Judge Jamie Tabor QC told her: "First of all this is in no way your fault.

"You are not naïve or gullible .

"You say you feel sorry for him but once a heroin addict has found, shall we say, an easy target he becomes a completely different person and, I am afraid to say, he might do it again.

"You are not alone and it is very sad because you are a kind and loving woman who has been taken advantage of by her partner."

Ms Randall said that a restraining order was not necessary but the judge advised her to give the option further consideration.

Hutchinson was granted conditional bail until October 27 when he will be sentenced.