A SERIAL criminal from East Hampshire whose habit has left him homeless and destitute has been let off £2,000 in outstanding court fines.

Steven Reed amassed the huge total following years of offending around Petersfield, Liss and Liphook to fund his drink and drug abuse.

The 31 year old has been living in a tent for much of the last two years since being kicked out of his previous home in Liss Forest.

He arrived at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Monday in police handcuffs to be sentenced for two counts of failing to pay rail fares.

But the recovering addict left with a near clean bill of financial health as a judge took pity and wrote off his substantial debts.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.