MUM Patsy Strudwick has criticised the court sentence given to her ex-drug addict neighbour who stole her son's PlayStation.

David Anthony Waterman, 34, of Princes Road, Bridport, was given a six-month deferred sentence at Dor-chester Crown Court yesterday after admitting theft.

He visited Mrs Strudwick's home while she was out and her brother-in-law, Barry Dransfield, let Waterman in to use the toilet.

The court heard that shortly afterwards Mr Dransfield found Waterman using a PlayStation belonging to Mrs Strudwick's son Michael, 15.

He later left the house and Mr Dransfield noticed the PlaySta-tion was missing.

The games console was recovered by police the same day, but Mrs Strudwick, 37, of Alexandra Road, Bridport, who lives in a property behind Waterman, said it was broken.

She said: "I was cross - livid! My son was also very upset.

"I am very upset and annoyed at the sentence. I was hoping he'd go down. I don't think Michael's going to like it very much."

Divorced Mrs Strudwick said she wanted to move away from the area after the incident and asked: "What am I supposed to do? I've got to get out of here. I've got to move. It's not very nice."

She said: "I'm a bit lost. They should have put him away. It's too much."

Chris Gair, who was representing Waterman in court, admitted his client had 34 previous convictions and an 'appalling record'

But he told the court that unemployed labourer Waterman had improved his behaviour since getting married and becoming a father of two.

He said prior to the marriage Waterman had a heroin addiction and also suffered problems with alcohol abuse.

His client's mother died in January 2002, which triggered a bout of reoffending.

Waterman was ordered to reappear at Dorchester Crown Court on July 9.