A CAREER criminal who went on an £80,000 burglary spree is back on the streets after a judge followed the home secretary's advice only to imprison the most dangerous offenders.

Junkie Edward Williams, 22, was told by Judge John Platt he was "extremely lucky" not to be locked up for three years.

The decision comes after home secretary John Reid told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding.

Williams was taken on a police tour of Grays by officers when he was arrested so he could point out all the 16 houses he had burgled.

In one raid in July last year Williams disabled CCTV at a large house in Havering and stole a laptop, two ipods, jewellery and electrical equipment.

Ten days later he ransacked a house in Buckhurst Hill before taking £5,200 of jewellery and electrical equipment from a house in Connaught Avenue, Grays on August 1.A neighbour spotted Williams and an accomplice and they were arrested.

Prosecuting Sasha Bailey said Williams admitted to a string other burglaries and said did them to support his £200-a-day crack habit.

Defending Gordon Lee urged Judge Platt to consider the "present pressures in the prison services".

Handing out a 12-month supervision order at Snaresbrook Crown Court Judge Platt said Williams had shown remorse for his behaviour.

He added: "I guarantee the fact that it is very much less likely, in the present state of the prison population, that you would receive the necessary help in prison to address the underlying causes of your behaviour."

Williams, of Southview Road, Grays was ordered to take part in a drug treatment programme, was fixed with an electronic tag and faces a curfew order from 9am to 7pm during weekdays.