A reformed drug addict who went on a crime spree only a few weeks before he was due to graduate from a two-year drugs? rehabilitation programme has apologised to a judge and the community at large.

Kevin Davis is starting a two-year prison term as a result of falling at the last hurdle after managing to stay out of trouble for four years and adhering to a community-based drugs? recovery programme. The 44 year old stuck to a drugs? rehabilitation programme that also allowed him go into schools to talk to children about the dangers of drugs. By cleaning up his life he enjoyed a ?beautiful? time, securing two jobs and was able to take his first overseas vacation in 20 years and got married.

But everything went wrong in April and May this year when he committed three crimes in quick succession while going through a difficult time, a court heard.

Davis was put on the Drugs Court treatment programme in 2001 after being convicted for a number of supermarket breaking and entering offences, which were a direct result of his drug dependency at the time.

Despite a number of initial lapses on the programme he was given a second chance and from 2002 to November 2004 managed to complete the full programme to receive his certificate of completion last December.

Senior probation officer Lauren Francis said the programme contained five phases of varying supervision levels. She said Davis has completed all five phases and was set to graduate from the programme on May 20 providing he had kept out of trouble until that date.

Six people have so far graduated from the programme, but Davis is not among them after spoiling his clean sheet on April 30 this year when he stole four packets of steak from Arnold?s Supermarket in Pembroke and was involved in an assault on a man the same day.

Then, in the early hours of May 16, he tried to break in to Locals Restaurant on Reid Street using a pick axe. He ran off after Police officers spotted him attempting to break in, but they were able to identify him and Davis was arrested two days later.

Davis, of Border Lane, Devonshire, pleaded guilty to the three offences and was sent to the Supreme Court for sentencing.

His defence lawyer Charles Richardson argued Davis has shown he can respond to community-based supervision and stay out of trouble as he?d proved by coming so close to graduating from the Drugs Court treatment programme.

Davis told Puisne Judge Geoffrey Bell: ?I want to apologise and to apologise to my family and everyone else involved, especially my wife. During the time I was clean I had a beautiful life.

?I was able to work, I had two jobs and earned a vacation and was able to fly away for the first time in 20 years. I went to schools and talked to children about drugs.

?I?m disappointed with myself. I could have had my record cleaned. To have come this far and fail, I just want to apologise to everyone.?

Mr. Justice Bell said he was taking into account Davis? guilty pleas and Drugs Court record, which represented ?the longest period of your adult life that you were conviction free?, as he sentenced Davis to two years in jail followed by three years probation on release.