A 35 YEAR old Stroud man once praised by a judge for beating his drug addiction and becoming a mentor to other offenders is back behind bars again after he admitted two offences of burglary.

Simon Cross of Hillcrest Road, was yesterday (Thurs) jailed for two years after pleaded guilty to breaking into two houses on March 21 this year.

It was the second time Cross has been imprisoned since the time just five years ago when he was lauded at Gloucester Crown Court for becoming 'clean' of drugs and helping others to steer clear of crime.

At that time he even posed for pictures with the then High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, who had also praised his efforts in turning his life around and putting drugs and crime behind him

Yesterday the court heard that Cross, who has succumbed again to his heroin addiction, raided houses in Frome Park Road, Stroud, where he stole electrical items, cosmetics, jewellery and other personal belongings and in Rodborough Avenue, Stroud, taking coins and foreign currency.

Cross also admitted threatening behaviour on the same day in the centre of Stroud at 5:40pm.

Prosecuting Janine Wood said “Police went to the town centre and saw Cross threatening an older man. He was jutting his head towards the man as if he was going to head butt him.

“He was clearly incapacitated, he appeared under the influence of drugs.”

Mrs Wood said Cross was then arrested and police discovered he matched the description of a suspect involved in burglaries earlier that day.

Outlining the circumstances of the burglary, Mrs Wood said Cross was identified when the owner’s son of the property in Frome Park Road returned home to find Cross asleep in a field behind the house.

“The son asked the defendant if he was OK. He said the defendant seemed ‘out of his head.'

“The defendant said he was fine and walked off but left two bags behind that contained items belonging to the home he had burgled. The son took the bags to the police station” she said.

Defending Matthew Harbinson said his client has a “vulnerability and weakness” to drugs but is addressing this.

“He has voluntarily attended CGL (Change, Grow Live, the Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Service) which shows a conscious decision to maintain a drug free life” he told the court.

Sentencing, Recorder Ignatius Hughes QC said that at 35 years old Cross has spent a long time being a committed offender to get money for Class A drugs.

“This is an offence against people. It causes people concern and disturbs their self confidence," he said.

“You are a compulsive drug taker which makes you a compulsive burglar.”

Cross left the court waving to his partner in the gallery and shouting happily that he would be 'out next summer.'