A MAN who breached his suspended sentence for attempting to rob a bookies has again avoided a jail term.

Kevin Williams, 31, burst into William Hill in High Road, Pitsea, and climbed over the counter demanding money. He was wearing a hoodie and had a scarf covering his face.

Williams, of The Slades, Vange, also had his hand in a plastic bag to make it appear as if he was armed with a gun, during the incident, on October 29 last year.

In February, he was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting one count of attempted robbery.

He was also ordered to take part in a drug rehabilitation programme and warned the prison term could be activated if he committed another offence.

Williams has now appeared before Basildon Crown Court again accused of stealing £65 of meat from Tesco, in Mandeville Way, Laindon, on September 22.

He was spotted by security staff sweating and acting suspiciously.

The court was told he was desperate for money to feed his drug addiction, because his replacement methadone subscription was not strong enough.

Recorder George Pulman QC handed him an 18-month community order and ordered him to attend the Essex Probation Service-led Bridge Project, which helps people with drug addictions.

Addressing Williams he said: “It was a stupid offence because you were the only customer in Tesco so the security staff had no one to watch but you.

“You have a serious drug problem which you are working on and immediate imprisonment would not be a fair sentence.”