THE cellmate of Clifton teenager Kirk Edwards, who died from hanging while in custody, was today on suicide watch himself as he started an eight-month sentence for burglary.

The 17-year-old youth's solicitor, John Howard, said two of the youth's family had killed themselves in recent years.

During an earlier stay at Wetherby Young Offenders Institution, the youth had discovered his cellmate Kirk had also taken his life, and he was expecting to give evidence at the inquest.

York Youth Court heard that while on remand, the heroin-addicted youth from the west part of York was on a suicide watch which meant he was checked on every 30 minutes.

He had been awaiting sentence for a £1,400 Tang Hall house raid, attempting to snatch a handbag in York city centre and breaching a probation order imposed for theft and handling a stolen moped on the same day.

Justices cut the detention and training order from 12 months to eight because of the youth's "extremely sad background" and his guilty plea.

The youth admitted all the offences.

The court was told that the youth's 17-year-old girlfriend was trying to kick her heroin habit so the pair can start a new life together when he is released.

She is on day one of a 12-month probation order after both appeared for sentence separately for crimes committed to fund their drug habits.

Mike Duffy, prosecuting, said the youth and another person took black bin liners full of electronic games and equipment from a house in Tuke Avenue, Tang Hall.

The youth told police they sold the items for cash.

Later, he was with five youths when he tampered with the handbag of a woman with a buggy who was at a city centre building society branch.

When she tried to escape towards Parliament Street, he followed her until she found a policeman.

"The lady was very distressed," said Mr Duffy.

The girlfriend, also from the west part of York, pleaded guilty to two offences each of deception, handling stolen goods and shoplifting and one of breaching a conditional discharge.

She asked for other offences to be taken into consideration.

Mr Duffy said the girl was using stolen credit cards within hours of their theft.

Mr Howard said she was cashing cheques and raising money to fund the pair's drug habits.

But she was now willing to get professional help in kicking her heroin habit "in the hope that when (the youth) comes out, they can start a life together without the dependency that has plagued them for weeks and months".

A full inquest into the death of Kirk Edwards, 17, of Lucas Avenue, Clifton, was adjourned earlier this year.