Drug addict to fight for rehab (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Drug addict to fight for rehab

HEROIN addict Casey Goble is to fight in the courts to stay on the drug rehabilitation course he received after 'terrorising' the people of Cirencester.

Just three months after Goble was given a drug treatment and testing order, staff at Nelson House in Stroud claim he had breached their rules and regulations.

They say the 28-year-old has behaved aggressively during his time at the centre and also allege that evidence of drug taking was found in his room. Goble, whose arrest in Cirencester last year saw a 'significant drop' in crime in the town, denies the allegations that he has breached the order.

"We say there was a confrontation whereby the defendant had £65 go missing from his room," said Giles Nelson, defending.

"He challenged a room, asking those in it who had stolen the money. Members of staff at Nelson House took exception to the way he made his accusation and they said he was in breach.

"They also say there is some evidence that drugs were used in his room." Mr Nelson told Gloucester Crown Court last Thursday that Goble was still techinically on his DTTO even though he was now living back in Dollar St, Cirencester, with his wife.

Judge Lester Boothman told the defendant that as he disputed the breach of the order there would have to be a hearing to determine what happened.

"This case will be adjourned until a date to be fixed for a hearing on the question of the breach," he said.

"There is going to be a contested hearing so we will need someone from Nelson House with personal knowledge of the incidents."

A prolific burglar, Goble wrote a letter of apology to the people of Cirencester earlier this year through the Standard after he admitted 14 burglaries in January.

For his crimes he was given a two year drug rehabilitation and testing order instead of being sent to prison.

Many townsfolk said at the time that they thought the 28-year-old had been let off lightly by Judge Boothman and should have been jailed for several years.

In his letter the repentent Goble begged forgiveness from God - and his victims.

He claimed in it that he had been 'fairly' punished and asked for the opportunity to free himself from drugs.

"For many years I have been addicted to Class A drugs which has changed my life from being normal to the worst extremes," he wrote.

"I have been committing burglaries and other crimes in the Cirencester area to feed my ever increasing habit.

"I would like to formally apologise to all my victims that I have hurt and caused great discomfort to over the years.

"I also feel that I now have vast amounts of shame and guilt inside me for what I have had to do.

"I feel I have been fairly punished for my crimes and hope God can forgive me for my dishonesty caused through drug addiction.

"I have also been given a chance to redirect my life by being committed to a drug rehabilitation centre, so hopefully I can conquer my addiction."

Goble, who has convictions for burglary dating back to 1990, was one of four local criminals in Cirencester who were 'named and shamed' on the front page of the Standard in January.

Police said that between them the four were responsible for most of the crime in the town.

As well as pleading guilty to two burglaries on January 10th, Goble was asked for 20 other offences, including breaking into 12 homes, to be taken into consideration.