A BURGLAR who stole around £17,000 of property in the space of two months while he was on licence from jail could be sent to a drug rehabilitation centre when he is released.

Peter Smith broke into houses all over Swindon and took Play stations, cameras jewellery and a computer, Swindon Crown Court heard.

When he appeared before Judge Thomas Longbotham he had already admitted two charges of burglary and asked for 14 similar offences, including two attempted burglaries, to be taken into consideration.

All the offences were committed in June and July soon after he admitted 57 burglaries to pay for heroin. When he was caught he was returned to jail to complete his sentence.

Smith, 28, of no fixed address, was due to be sentenced this week and was looking at the possibility of a six-year term.

But Judge Longbotham adjourned the hearing until February 12, just before Smith's release date, to consider a proposal by defence counsel Paul Orton to send him to Clouds residential rehabilitation centre near Salisbury.

"There comes a time in most people's criminal career when they have what is probably their last and best chance," said Judge Long-botham.

"I most certainly will not consider giving you any chance which releases you into the community at the moment.

"The public must be protected.

"It is also clear that the motivating factor for your burglaries is drug addiction.

"That is no consolation to the people whose homes have been burgled."