A HEROIN addict is today behind bars after she threw away a chance of the help she says she desperately needs.

On Monday Coraleena Hunter, 24, was allowed to keep her freedom so drug professionals could assess her for a drug treatment and testing order.

Under the order, she would have received counselling and other help to kick the habit - and avoided jail for a street robbery.

But on Tuesday, she did not turn up on time for a meeting at Turning Point drug agency in Micklegate, despite it being a condition of her bail.

Police sent her back to York Crown Court where Judge Gavin Barr Young jailed her for 12 months. "It is utterly pointless to make a drug testing and treatment order and use up their (the agency's) resources unless one is very confident a person placed on that order will co-operate and comply," he told her.

"I made it a condition of your bail and did so, so as not just to leave it to your voluntary good motivation ... Are you listening to me?"

Hunter, who had been looking in the public gallery behind her turned round and nodded.

"...and to make sure you had every incentive to attend," the judge continued. "You have thrown away the chance given to you. You have exhausted the patience of this court."

Hunter, of Lowther Street, The Groves, pleaded guilty to robbery earlier this year and showed no reaction to the sentence.

Chris Smith, prosecuting, said that after the time of the appointment, Hunter rang the agency, asking for directions to Micklegate. Later on Tuesday she told probation staff she would hand herself in. But she did not reach a police station until after her arrest at 1.05pm on Wednesday on suspicion of theft. The theft allegation was later dropped.

For her, Diane Dixon said she had intended to attend the appointment. At an earlier hearing, she said that Hunter wanted help and was reducing her habit.

Probation officer Susan Shelley said the drug order team did not think she was sufficiently motivated for the order.

Updated: 10:54 Friday, October 03, 2003