I will get clean for my Claire

User’s vow after his girlfriend dies

A drug addict has vowed to get clean after his girlfriend died while he was locked up for a break-in.

Andrew Mack, 32, lost Claire Taylor while he was on remand for sneaking into the office of home help firm Care Watch.

Cops found her at the flat the couple shared after kicking in the door.

Both had been hooked on killer counterfeit diazepam pills.

At Paisley Sheriff Court he admitted creeping into the business with intent to steal.

Defence lawyer Paul Lynch insisted his client was now committed to ditching drugs.

He said: “He had been remanded in custody and some contact had been made with her.

“But he heard nothing from her for a considerable period.

“Police forced their way into their flat and sadly found her.

“It was drugs – possibly street Valium. “They were a couple of lost souls. “They gravitated towards each other.

“They didn’t have a wide circle of friends and became co-dependent.

“If there is anything positive that can possibly come of this, it might provide more determination to get off drugs.”

Mack was snared after he gained entry to the office in the town’s Abbey Mill Business Centre.

He targeted the company at its base in Seedhill Road last November 19 after breaking in to steal.

Ms Taylor’s body was found in the flat the couple shared on nearby Knox Street following his arrest.

The court heard the flat is still sealed off and Mack has been unable to return.

He has been referred for homeless accommodation through social workers.

Mack has been put on a Drug Treatment and Testing Order to help him beat his addiction.

The programme includes regular appointments with counsellors and doctors to ensure he is not using.

Sheriff Susan Sinclair urged Mack to stamp out his habit.

She said: “I’m really sorry for your loss. “It is very, very tragic.” She added: “You are never sure what they are buying.

“That’s why we put him on a DTTO, to see if we can help him.”

Mack is due to be sentenced for the