A GRANDMOTHER has told of her heartbreak at having to report her heroin-addicted grandson to the police for stealing from her.

Darren Andrews, 23, of Woodcock Road, Warminster, admitted stealing more than £500 worth of jewellery to fund his habit at Chippenham magistrates' court on Thursday.

Andrews was living at the family home in Woodcock Road while on bail after being charged with dangerous driving. He was arrested after a police chase, involving a helicopter, through Kingdown Community School while pupils were still there.

In a statement read out in court, Andrew's grandmother said he had broken her heart and admitted she would have to live with the fact she had reported her grandson to the police for the rest of her life. Andrews' mother, who did not want to be named for fear of recriminations against her and her family, said that her son had gone off the rails and she did not know why.

She said: "Darren is a law unto himselfbut I love him and I just want my son back. "I'm not a bad mother none of my other children are on drugs, I just don't understand why it has happened." She has kept Andrews' mobile phone and SIM card and all the text messages and phone numbers of his dealers and druggie mates.

One of the messages read: "Darren I've got some really good gear do you want some?" Another said: "Let's get off our faces together tonight." While a third one read: "If you want some gear I'm here until 6pm". But she said the police don't want to know about the messages because her son is a small fish in a big pond and there's nothing they can do.

She said: "Reporting Darren to the police was a last resort to try and get him away from the people who are doing this to him. "My only fear now is that there are so many drugs in prison he might not be able to kick the habit. It's sad and frustrating but there really is nothing I can do about it."

Andrews' mother added he had an IQ of 172 and she wondered whether that was why he got into trouble. She said: "Last year he was working up near London earning £700-800 a week. He has so much potential."

She has not visited her son, who has been remanded in custody, to make a point. She said: "I want to let him know how much he has hurt us and that he can't do this to us again."

His grandmother said in a statement that her grandson had stolen 12 items of jewellery worth £560, but all with immense sentimental value.

After discussions with another family member, she found out Andrews had sold the items to fund his addiction. Nicky Jennings, prosecuting, said Andrews had committed a serious breach of trust by stealing the jewellery from his grandmother and noted that he was also in breach of bail.

Andrews was remanded in custody to appear before Swindon Crown Court today.