FORMER heroin addict has avoided a jail term after committing an offence for the second time while subject to a suspended sentence.

Joshua Hill, admitted stealing three chicken wraps from the Tesco Express in Shirley Road in Southampton on November 20 and then spitting in a police car when arrested.

Kelly Wickens, prosecuting at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, said the 21-year-old told officers he had hepatitis C and they therefore had the vehicle cleaned, costing £60.

She said that in January last year Hill was given a four-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months for criminal damage.

Hill, from Southampton Lane, Cadnam, avoided jail when he was back in court for criminal damage in October.

He was sentenced to six months conditional discharge and the suspended prison sentence extended to 15 months.

After committing the latest offences magistrates were advised the starting point was the activation of the suspended sentence. But the court heard Hill was drinking less and on methadone and that treatment he is about to receive for hepatitis C would be affected by a prison term.

The chairman of the bench sentenced him to a 12-month community order. He was also given a 12-week curfew and ordered on a six-month alcohol treatment programme.