A “DESPICABLE” couple who stole 17 poppy tins to fund their £100 a day drug habit have avoided jail.

Callous Roma Taylor, 51, of Cedar Avenue, Tiptree, and Anthony Archer, 53, of Ongar Road, Writtle, were described by their own defence solicitor as “the lowest of the low” moments before they walked free from Southend Crown Court today.

The court heard how they had wracked up a £3,000 debt with the notorious Basildon drug dealing gang The Bush Boys.

The couple had previously admitted stealing the 17 tins between October 28 and November 8 last year in a 12 day crime spree across shops in Colchester, Tiptree, Chelmsford and Maldon.

But they were spared jail when Recorder Martyn Royall took pity on the heroin and crack addicts, handing them a 15 month prison sentence suspended for two years.

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