A builder addicted to amphetamine has admitted stealing almost £2,500 from clients, a court heard.

Steven Deacon, 51, had been given the cash to build driveways but failed to carry out the work and then refused to pay it back.

Worthing magistrates heard the customers no longer wanted the work done but the defendant, who was taking three grammes of amphetamine - known as speed - a day, said they were not entitled to the cash.

Angela McGuinness, prosecuting, told the court that the deposits amounted to £2,450.

She said: "Three people paid for work to be undertaken but Deacon failed to carry out the work.

"In November 2002, he was spoken to by police and said he had intended to conduct the work and he would pay back every penny."

Maria Monan, defending, said Deacon had taken on a number of contracts for brick-built drives at the time and he gave quotes to all three clients.

She said: "He suggested if they paid up-front, there would be a reduction in the price. They agreed and paid the deposits."

Ms Monan said Deacon, of Daniels Close, Lancing, had a "tremendous influx of work" and he kept putting off building the three drives.

She said: "He believed if someone paid a deposit and that work was not carried out but they wanted to step out of the verbal contract, that he did not have to pay them back."

Ms Monan said her client had started taking speed nine years before but his occasional use soon spiralled out of control.

Deacon tried to commit suicide in January 2001 by consuming 100 paracetamol tablets and spent ten months in intensive rehabilitation programmes.

Magistrates fined him £450 and ordered him to pay £2,450 compensation.

Three charges of deception were withdrawn after Deacon pleaded guilty to three charges of theft.

He admitted stealing £350 from David Tamplin, of Honey Croft, Hangleton, on September 9, 2000; £300 from Linda Thomson, of Benfield Way, Portslade, on September 14, 2000, and £1,800 from Linda Mardell, of Benfield Way, Portslade on October 10, 2000.