Poet burglar faces jail over drugs

The drug addict burglar who was spared a prison sentence so he could pursue a new life as a poet was today warned he faces jail after taking drugs again.

Old Bailey Judge Paul Focke QC told Mark Patterson, 41, he could end up behind bars for breaching the terms of the drug treatment and testing order given him in January. It is understood he has since failed at least one drugs test.

The judge told him: "It appears to me you have failed to comply with the terms of the order."

Patterson was caught with a machete after burgling an empty house in Deptford last year, but walked free from the Old Bailey after Judge Simon Goldstein heard he had been writing verse behind bars and had a "natural talent" for language.

He has more than 50 convictions for offences including burglary, robbery and GBH.

Patterson, from Deptford, is trying to conquer his heroin addiction and is seeking a publisher for his work. Judge Goldstein told him: "The motivation for you to succeed under this order is your absolute desire to try to make a success of your undoubted talent for writing poetry."

He added: 'There are many people out there hoping and indeed willing you to fail so they can say, we told you so: a leopard never changes its spots. That should represent a challenge to you."

Patterson must now return to the Old Bailey on 4 April. Outside court today he insisted he was still writing poetry and trying to keep away from drugs and crime. He said: "It is difficult. I find things difficult but I will keep it together.

"I have become a recluse. I have refrained from thieving. I want to prove all the knockers wrong."