A DRUG addict who reversed his car while a police officer clung to it has been jailed for four years to save him from heroin.

Serial burglar Luke Thorpy admitted stealing from people's homes to fund his habit.

The 24-year-old, of Spring Vale, Swanmore, also admitted panicking when approached while banned from driving and driving off while a police officer was trapped in the open car door.

Thorpy had been a promising student whose lifelong ambition was to study astrophysics and had won a place at university.

However, the court heard how, for more than a decade, Thorpy's life had been ruled by heroin addiction.

He had tried to kick the habit many times - including nine months of success on a drug testing and treatment order before he succumbed to the drug again.

Defending, Richard Brown said: "His life has been blighted by the use of illegal drugs."

Mr Brown told the court that Thorpy had started to make progress in prison and desperately wanted to continue - with the support of his mother and wife-to-be.

He added: "He is aware of what is going to happen to him and thinks this may be the only way to stop him offending. He is absolutely desperate to get off heroin."

Thorpy had previously pleaded guilty to a break-in at a house in Gosport and stealing two handbags and a wallet. He asked for three other burglary offences to be taken into account.

He had also admitted reversing his car for 20ft at 10mph in an Eastleigh side road while an officer was trapped in the open door, saying he panicked because he knew he had to be on his best behaviour after a driving ban and other offences. The officer had to jump on to the side of the car and then off again to save himself from injury.

Thorpy also admitted giving false details when stopped by police while driving on the A32 at Wickham.

Recorder Christopher Clark QC sentenced Thorpy to three years' imprisonment for the burglaries, nine months for dangerous driving and three months for attempting to pervert the course of justice, less the time he had already served on remand.

He said: "I do accept that you have tried to come to terms with your drug addiction and am satisfied that drug addiction has led to this series of offences. I do hope that you will now get treatment so that you are better able to cope with life outside when you get out of prison."

Thorpy has a string of previous convictions, mainly for burglaries, shoplifting and driving offences.