A DRUG addict who was spared jail after hiding in a Subway restaurant toilet in order to steal a charity collection pot has been given another chance after breaching a court order.

Leigh Cooper was jailed in June this year for 16 months, suspended for two years, for two counts of burglary, one count of theft and another of fraud by false representation.

As part of that sentence, passed at Oxford Crown Court, Cooper was also made subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months and 12-months mental health treatment requirement.

In those offences, committed in November 2019, the 39-year-old of Rectory Road, Oxford, also targeted the pub in which his mother worked and stole more than £5,000 from a safe.

READ AGAIN: Our report from the original sentencing hearing earlier this year.

After avoiding an immediate jail term he appeared again at the same court yesterday.

He admitted breaching the terms of his order by failing to attend appointments.

The court heard that Cooper lived a 'chaotic lifestyle' and was still taking class A drugs.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said that class A drugs had been the 'bane' of Cooper's life.

He said he would give him a chance to comply with the original suspended sentence order rather than impose a jail term.

To mark the breach the initial drug rehabilitation requirement was extended for a further six months and will be in effect until June next year.

The other requirements that were imposed as part of the initial sentence will continue as before.