A New Malden man who burgled his cousin's home to feed his drug habit has been jailed for three months by Kingston Magistrates' Court.

The court heard how Andrew Morris, 33, of Bazalgette Gardens, went to his female cousin's house in Barnsbury Crescent, Kingston, on September 22, and stole her purse containing £30.

Miss Spencer, prosecuting, said: "She was at home at 4.50pm when she heard noises.

"She looked out of the front door and saw her cousin Mr Morris cycling away.

"She found her bag, which was on the sofa, had been rummaged through and her purse had been taken."

Miss Spencer said the complainant had gone to Morris' home to ask for the items back and he returned the purse, minus the £30, the following day, explaining that he was "back on the gear".

Mr Webb, defending, said Morris had originally gone to his cousin's house to borrow money to purchase drugs but had taken the purse and was sorry for his actions.

The court heard that Morris, currently in prison for other burglary offences, was making good use of drug rehabilitation facilities and was determined to leave prison drug free.

Mr Webb said: "Hopefully he will go to rehab on his release and become a more productive member of society afterwards."

Sentencing Morris yestrday to three months' imprisonment, to run concurrently with his existing sentence magistrate Sharon Eden said: "This was a burglary to your cousin that you'd known for some time.

"That is why the sentence is reduced from what we would normally give for a burglary.

"We are pleased to hear you are doing a drug reduction programme in prison and we hope you will stick to that."