AN ANDOVER man who was caught buying heroin has been given one last chance to avoid going to prison.

Toby Street was due to be sentenced for possession of a Class A drug at Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

He was caught buying a single wrap of heroin from a known drug dealer, the court was told.

But the judge decided to allow him one more chance to co-operate with the probation service and to complete a pre-sentence report, saying he will likely face prison if he does not.

Street was serving a suspended sentence for theft at the time of the offence, and his defence barrister, Anne-Marie Talbot, had argued that the case should be adjourned to give him the opportunity to comply with probation.

“By the writer’s admission, it remains incomplete,” Ms Talbot said of the pre-sentence report.

“The report writer says this is through the non-compliance of Mr Street. He states that the phone was cut off as he was driving through a tunnel.”

He tried twice to call back, but was unable to get through, she added.

Ms Talbot continued to say that the 32-year-old is now living with his mother and needs to be given an opportunity to tackle his drug addiction.

“Considering his offending history, he has never had the opportunity for a drug rehabilitation requirement before.

“At 32, if Mr Street is genuinely ready to change this cycle of addiction and offending behaviour I would invite the court to give him that opportunity.”

Giving him one last chance to comply with the probation service, Recorder Daniel Sawyer said: “Given the very stark choice that I have, I am going to adjourn this for a further period.

“If there are any difficulties, it will be activating the suspended sentence.”