A GOLFER tipped to be a star in the sport is back in jail for a third time.
Reece Wilson fell prey to his drug habit, a court heard.
He was jailed for three years and nine months at Leeds Crown Court for stealing from shops to pay for his heroin addiction.
Wilson, 24, a machine operator, of Clough Lane, Rastrick, admitted stealing £560 in three thefts at post office and convenience stores.
He was once destined for a golf career, playing off a single-figure handicap in his teens.
But his life went wrong when he became addicted to crack cocaine after starting on cannabis, the court was told.
At 20, Wilson was locked up for two years for burglary and robbery.
At 22, he was jailed for three years and nine months - the same sentence he received yesterday for offences he committed over a five-day period last September.
His barrister, Neil Clark, said Wilson had stayed off drugs for some time, but was then left devastated by the death of his best friend.
"He didn't cope well with that and returned to misusing drugs," said Mr Clark.
He said Wilson was now determined to beat his drug addiction and was again on friendly terms with his estranged parents.
Mr Clark urged that Wilson should be allowed to remain in the community so he could go on a drug treatment programme.
But Judge Shaun Spencer said he had to impose a jail sentence, to reflect the serious nature of Wilson's crimes.
Wilson was a junior golfer at the Castlefields Club in Rastrick, where he was said to have a very promising future in the sport.
He was playing off a handicap of nine when he was just 15.
