A heroin addict who burgled his own 89-year-old grandmother’s house for drug money has been forgiven by his family.

Lee Dummett, 41, was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years, and ordered to undertake a nine month drug rehabilitation programme during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court .

Addressing Dummett, Judge Hilary Manley said: “You cannot get much lower than burgling your 89-year -old grandmothers house to steal money to feed your drug addiction.

“Your family try very hard to assist you but the anguish and worry caused by you must be shattering and soul destroying.

“To put a lady of nearly 90 years old through such an ordeal is unforgivable.”

The court was told that Dummett, who has been an addict for 20 years, often received money from his grandmother as well as his parents to fund his habit.

But when the family were advised by drug experts to stop handing over cash, Dummett reached “rock bottom”.

On June 4, Dummett had visited his family who refused to give him any money.

At about 10am he went to his gran’s house.

The pensioner, who lives alone, asked him to leave but Dummett banged on the door and jumped to try and spot her.

He eventually left but his gran was so upset she asked her daughter to pick her up and take her to their house.

At about 6pm Dummett returned and broke into the house, cutting his hand while smashing open a back door window.

He entered the house and took £65.

Police were called and traced his blood.

While being interviewed, prosecutor Claire Brocklebank told the court that Dummett said: “How can it be burglary when it’s your own grans house?”

Ms Brocklebank read out a victim impact statement from his grandmother, saying that she was struggling to pay her bills because of the amount of money she had been handing to her grandson.

She said she had been upset by the incident but that she wants her grandson to get help.

Mark Rhind, defending, told the court that Dummett’s mother has ‘forgiven but not forgotten’ her son’s actions.

Mr Rhind said: “This is something the family seem to have been labouring under for some years. The family are glad it has been brought to a head.”

He added that Dummett, of Rectory Road, Crumpsall, is no longer using heroin and said he is ‘beginning to sort his life out’.