LEGAL aid solicitor Bob Lulham told Orange Local Court he had never heard a more sad story than the childhood of William Kiren Edwards.
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Edwards was no stranger to the courtroom when he appeared on Thursday for assault, property damage and a break-in charge.
Mr Lulham said the 19-year-old had been introduced to drugs at the age of six, was in rehabilitation by the age of 11 and had a petrol sniffing addiction.
“I’ve rarely seen a background as tragic as what William has experienced ... one of the most tragic cases I have seen,” he told magistrate, Terry Lucas.
The teenager of Spring Street received a two year good behaviour bond after he broke into a property in Tumbelluwa Place on the afternoon of March 30.
Police facts said he jumped a fence and broke in through a glass window but the noise alerted a neighbour who recognised Edwards.
He escaped the scene but police were tipped off to his whereabouts the next day by an anonymous caller.
When officers arrived at the address they found Edwards hiding under a bed.
Mr Lulham asked Mr Lucas to take into account Edwards had been in custody since his arrest and had entered an early guilty plea.
“He made admissions he had carried out the offence to get money to get more cannabis,” he said
In sentencing, Mr Lucas said he hoped Edwards would take rehabilitation seriously and beat his drug addiction.
“Otherwise you’ll just keep going to jail,” he said.
“Keep clean for two years ... hopefully this is the end of your criminal career.”