A MAN who harassed his mother at her Hereford flat and burgled it has been jailed for two and a half years.

Kevin O'Neill was suffering from severe mental illness and had a crack-cocaine addiction, Worcester Crown Court heard.

At the time of the offences he was being helped by the probation service and mental health services in Hereford under a community rehabilitation order.

Judge Michael Mott paid tribute to those who had tried to help O'Neill but said it was "terrible" that they were hampered by the drug abuse of defendants like him.

Only while in custody on remand had he begun to kick the habit and developed the intention not to take drugs again.

The judge told O'Neill, of Coningsby Street, Hereford: "I know you have mental illness, but if you didn't take drugs the psychiatric services would be controlling that perfectly well and none of this would have happened."

O'Neill, aged 26, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft, threatening behaviour and harassment.

Prosecutor Carol Knotts said the defendant called a number of times at his mother's flat and demanded money. He became angry and aggressive and on one visit took her credit card from a bedroom.

On October 12 last year she left the flat secure but O'Neill broke in through the bathroom window and stole a TV and tobacco with a total value of £79.

When she allowed him to stay a month later, he stole her debit card and obtained £400 with it.

He had previous convictions for drug offences, theft and burglary.

Samantha Powis, defending, said he suffered from schizophrenia which left him unable to cope with life.

"His mother is a target when he wants easy money to buy drugs," she said. "He is now properly motivated to deal with his drug abuse."