A HEROIN addict who claimed he was threatened with being shot if he did not go on drug runs escaped a jail sentence.

Graham Schreiber, 28, who appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday was made the subject of an 18-month Community Rehabilitation Order (CRO) for possessing cocaine on March 16 last year.

Schreiber, of St Hughes Avenue, High Wycombe, admitted the offence at Aylesbury Crown Court last month when Judge Terence Maher adjourned sentence after being told the defendant had had a long-standing heroin habit.

The court heard at the initial hearing that on March 13 last year, Schreiber, was stopped by police on the A40 London Road in High Wycombe, in his pick-up truck, and was found to have 6.59g of cocaine worth up to £800 hidden in a leather boot in the back of the vehicle.

Barnaby Evans, prosecuting, said that Schreiber had been to High Wycombe police station two days earlier to report he had been forced to take part in drugs running, and was warned not to in the future.

Schreiber denied any knowledge of the boot and cocaine in his car.

Defence lawyer Basil Hillman said that as well as having been threatened with being shot, Schreiber had also been threatened with a meat cleaver.

When he originally adjourned the case, Judge Maher said: "I am quite happy to consider not passing a custodial sentence because of the unusual circumstances and because he is in the process of learning a very bitter lesson that he might end up dead."

Judge Maher went on to impose the CRO when Schreiber reappeared for sentence on Tuesday, and added: "If you re-offend the whole wretched business starts all over again and you may end up serving time."