A DRUG addict sold items of expensive china stolen in a burglary at the Shropshire home of pensioner.

Missing silverware from the break-in was later found at 55-year-old Judith Powell’s Alberbury home by police.

Officers also found 78 cannabis plants being cultivated in three of the bedrooms.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court Powell was given an 18-month community order, 20 days rehabilitation and must complete 100 hours unpaid work.

She had admitted two charges of handling stolen goods and one charge of production of cannabis.

The court heard that Powell, who has previous convictions for dishonesty, was addicted to heroin and cannabis and had allowed her dealer to use her property to grow cannabis to pay her drug debt.

Miss Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said matters came to light after Powell sold a stolen car for scrap.

The Ford Focus was stolen in September last year from an address in Telford and in November a scrap dealer contacted the police.

The defendant was paid £75 for the car and produced a log book and said she would send it off to the DVLA herself.

Miss Ruck said the scarp dealer later discovered parts were missing from the car and was informed by the DVLA that it was a stolen vehicle.

Police spoke to the defendant she said a man, who she was not prepared to name, had left the car at her address.

During a subsequent search of Powell's home officers found expensive china and silverware stolen in a burglary at the home of a 90-year-old woman at Montford Bridge in October last year.

Police also found that three of the four bedrooms were being used to grow cannabis and 78 plants were recovered.

Mr Andrew Green, for Powell, said it was an unusual case that since her arrest his client was getting help for her drug issues.