A DRUG addict who repeatedly stole from his grandmother to feed his habit has escaped being jailed.

Ezra Rees used Teresa Funge’s credit card to withdraw cash on more than 50 occasions, taking more than £5,000.

The 23-year-old was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after earlier admitting 10 counts of committing fraud by false representation.

He also asked for an additional 42 similar offences to be taken into consideration and admitted being in breach of an earlier suspended sentence.

Rees, of Old London Road, Wheatley, used his grandmother’s Barclaycard and Marks & Spencer card to withdraw between £100 and £200 at a time between October last year and January this year.

Lucy Ffrench, defending the self-employed plasterer, said her client continues to live with Mrs Funge, who has forgiven him.

Recorder Alexander Milne said: “She is remarkably forgiving in the circumstances and that is a matter which is very much to her credit.”

He gave Rees a six-month drug-rehabilitation order with a year’s supervision. Rees must also do 50 hours’ unpaid work.