Locked up: 'Estranged' son and drug addict burgled his family's home A DRUG addict who burgled his parents' house in Tredegar on two occasions was jailed for 30 months.

Anthony John Brown, aged 31, of The Croft, Steelworks Road, Ebbw Vale had climbed a tree to gain access to his parents' home when he knew they were out, Eugene Egan, prosecuting, told Newport crown court.

Brown appeared before the court for sentence after previously pleading guilty. The court was told that Brown was no longer welcome at the family home because of his lifestyle.

He burgled the house for the second time while waiting to take up a drug treatment and testing order.

Mr Egan said Brown had earlier burgled the home of his neighbour by getting in through a ground floor window and stealing CDs, computer games and a trumpet.

He admitted the burglaries in May and August last year and also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin and failing to answer his bail.

He asked Judge David Morris to take another burglary into consideration. Leighton Hughes, defending, said this was a very sad case where a son was estranged from his parents because of his drug addiction. "His parents saw him in the street as they drove off from their house and knew he was responsible for the burglaries. His mother has now died and he was not welcome at the funeral, but he is determined to put drugs behind him."

Mr Hughes said that drugs were "rife" in South Wales and rather than mix with the same people, Brown had decided his parents' house was an easy target.