A DRUG addict who stole from his father and girlfriend in order to fund his habit has avoided prison.

Ashley Reed-Jones, of Caribou Walk, Reading, sold a watch belonging to his dad and television from his partner's house to buy cocaine and cannabis.

He also stole a friend's phone after she refused to pay him for a bike, causing her to lose cherished photos of her children.

The 20-year-old went to a coffee shop where the phone had been left and claimed to be the owner, before staff realised their mistake.

Reading Crown Court also heard how he had withdrawn more than £400 from his girlfriend's bank account.

A restraining order was imposed on Reed-Jones, preventing him from contacting Janine Saul for 10 years.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after admitting to three counts of fraud, two counts of theft, one count of burglary and another of failing to surrender.

Recorder Timothy Greene, sentencing, said: "These offences, while not serious on their own, are quite mean. You hurt and steal from those who are closest to you.

"There are boundaries that you do not cross, but you repeatedly cross them just to feed your drug addiction.

"You were perfectly happy to do whatever you had to do to those who were closest to you to get the money you needed. It is extraordinary."

Lisa Goddard, prosecuting, explained how his father had loaned him the watch for a series of job interviews, before it was recovered from Cash Converters.

Reed-Jones' father told the court in a written statement how he did not want anything to do with his son after he broke his trust. The two have since reconciled, due to his father's ill health.

David Dainty, mitigating, asked the judge to suspend the sentence so that Reed-Jones could receive intervention for his drug problem.

He will be required to undertake 12 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and carry out work at a drug programme for six months.

Mr Dainty added: "He realises that he needs to be punished. If he has regular support he is more likely to stay off drugs and is less likely to offend."