A heroin addict and thief who handed himself in after reading about one victim's plight in The Argus escaped a jail sentence yesterday.

William Silve stole thousands of pounds of jewellery and electronic equipment to feed his habit during a two-month frenzy.

Silve, 24, of Pelham Street, Brighton, handed himself in to police after reading about Hannah Brown.

Miss Brown, 26, contacted The Argus after a burglar ransacked her flat in Buckingham Street, Brighton, on July 1 and stole four precious rings she had inherited from her recently deceased mother.

After coming forward, Silve attempted to help police trace the rings and two were found at his home.

Lewes Crown Court heard how he pleaded guilty at Brighton and Hove Magistrates Court to five burglaries during three separate appearances, one of which was committed after he had broken into Miss Brown's flat.

The series of offences running from June until August this year included two counts of handling stolen goods.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of going equipped after admitting to police the chisel in his backpack was to help with burglaries when he was arrested on August 9.

Kevin Light, defending, accepted Silve had offended while on bail but urged Judge David Rennie to consider a drug rehabilitation order rather than a custodial sentence.

He said: "Having seen the article in The Argus he took himself to the police station and it was a direct result of his actions that some - not all, but some - of the jewellery was recovered.

"He was in the grip of a heroin addiction. He was not working or on benefits and he wasn't receiving any help for his addiction in the sense he was receiving any methadone or anything like that.

"That's the reason why he continued with his offences - in order to fund his addiction."

Silve was remanded in custody after his last appearance before magistrates on August 19.

The court heard how he had neared a successful completion of a short drugs programme while in custody since then and had remained clean for the longest time in six months.

Judge David Rennie sentenced Silve to a three-year community order with drug rehabilitation, explaining it would be more beneficial to him and the community if it was successful.

But he warned Silve any evidence of him giving in to his addiction would see him face at least three years in prison.

Noting Silve's previous good character, he said: "When you read the article in The Argus it may well be that some of the normal William Silve not in the grip of drugs re-connected with another reality and you began to appreciate how appalling what you had done to these people was.

"I hope you understand some people never recover from the shock of having their homes invaded by people like you. It's disgraceful behaviour."

Silve will be tested for drugs twice a week and his progress will be reviewed before the courts, initially on a monthly basis.

Miss Brown declined to comment.