A DRUG user who burgled ten properties in less than two months, stealing priceless jewellery from many homes, has been told he may not be jailed.

George Mullard ransacked people's houses and even used a Sharpie pen to scrawl a vile word on the living room wall of a Royal Wootton Basset home.

But after hearing the 22-year-old's family are trying to arrange residential rehabilitation for his addiction, Judge Robert Pawson put off passing sentence.

He told him that should funding and a bed become available for him he may not send the repeat raider to prison.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Mullard went on the burglary spree, even targeting his own grandmother's home, in August and September. She said he raided three houses on Field Rise, in Okus, along with four others in neighbouring streets.

Miss Squire said that during one of the break-ins he made off with a couple's engagement rings which they bought in the early 1960s.

He stole gold and pearl jewellery worth thousands from another family, along with electrical items from others.

In September he broke into a house on Saffron Close, Royal Wootton Bassett, making off with a £900 gold sovereign ring and a £500 Gucci watch and scrawling an obscenity on the living room wall.

A few days earlier he had raided his grandmother's home on High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, after in July he raided her next door neighbour.

On that occasion he stole a set of diamond stud earrings worth £4,000, a £300 silver chain and an Apple watch worth £369.

Miss Squire said that while some of the electrical items were recovered none of the jewellery, which had great sentimental value, was ever found.

Mullard, who gave the court his address as The Roaring Donkey pub in Albert Street, Old Town, Swindon, pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary.

He asked for four further matters of burglary and one of attempted burglary to be taken in to consideration when he is sentenced.

Jyoti Wood, defending, said that at the time her client had been addicted to cocaine and ketamine, running up a great deal of debt to dealers.

Although he had initially been granted bail by magistrates he had cut off his electronic tag as he thought he 'deserved to be punished', and was remanded in custody.

As a result she said he had been clean of drugs for six or seven weeks and his family are trying to get him a place in a rehabilitation unit in Northampton or Bournemouth.

The judge said he was going to adjourn the case to see if there was a place available for him and whether there was public or private funding.

But he said "Mr Mullard, you should not take this as any guarantee that you won't necessarily receive a custodial sentence. But it just might."

He remanded him in custody to Thursday, November 29 after being assured Mullard is prepared to undergo treatment at StreetScene in Bournemouth, if it is available.