Father of Seven Handed Unpaid Work Sentence After Re-starting Drug Habit

DRUG user and father of seven John Lamb was ordered to carry out an extra 50 hours of unpaid work this week, after admitting that he breached the terms of his suspended jail sentence after falling off the wagon and re-starting his heroin habit. He miss

DRUG user and father of seven John Lamb was ordered to carry out an extra 50 hours of unpaid work this week, after admitting that he breached the terms of his suspended jail sentence after "falling off the wagon" and re-starting his heroin habit.

He missed five appointments with the probation service after his wife threw him out because he took the class A drug, but he is now back on a prescription and has returned home, Ely magistrates were told.

Back in July last year, 32-year-old Lamb, of Walsingham Way, Ely, was given the suspended sentence after collecting his eighth conviction for driving while disqualified.

At that sentencing, Lamb was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work; he was given a two-year supervision order, and told to pay �60 costs.

On Thursday, city magistrates heard Lamb admit missing five appointments with the probation service, but were told he had completed 137 hours of work.

"His pregnant wife throws him out when he takes heroin," explained solicitor Jacqui Baldwin. "He fell off the wagon. He has had difficulties with accommodation for the last month, but he is now back at home.