Drug addicts in Brighton and Hove who fund their activities through crime are costing victims up to £45 million a year.

A report commissioned by the Home Office focuses on the criminal activities of 17 drug users before they took part in a rehabilitation programme run by the Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI).

It shows the users were spending an average of £350 a week on their habits, largely funded through about six crimes each day, including selling drugs, shoplifting and sex crimes.

David Biddle, CRI's operations and development director, believes there are 1,800 drug addicts in the city who spend about £23 million a year on drugs. About £15 million of that is thought to be raised from crime.

The latest report says: "The cost to victims might be three times as high, £45 million, given that stolen property is generally fenced at a third or less of its market value."

Mr Biddle said: "If you have a drug habit that costs £300 a week you have to steal £1,000 worth of stuff to get the real value.

"I am sure the cost to victims in Brighton and Hove is about £45 million a year because we have at least 1,800 drug addicts.

"The police are doing a good job but they have an enormous task. If treatment facilities were not here I am sure the problem would grow faster. Projects like ours do keep people clean and divert them into non-drug taking careers."

The CRI rehabilitation programme is being run in conjunction with the St Thomas Fund.

Gary Martin, 30, who became addicted to heroin 12 years ago, is taking part.

He was also once addicted to crack cocaine and used to sell drugs, shoplift and burgle to fund his habit.

He said: "I do not want to carry on pinching other people's livelihoods. But when you are on heroin and crack the drugs totally possess you. You don't feel like it is you committing the crimes, it's as if the drugs are doing it."

As well as helping addicts to stay clean, the rehabilitation programme aims to help them find work and accommodation.