A MAN robbed a Ballarat engineering company of more than $7000 and blew the money on drugs and alcohol, a court heard yesterday.Ballarat Magistrates Court heard Paul Burton burgled Kermeen & Co in Creswick Rd to fund a drug and alcohol addiction.Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Shaun Perry told the court that between January 13 and 14 the 31-year-old took tools from a truck at the premises after smashing its window.He said Burton then smashed a rear toilet window and climbed into the premises where he stole $140 from a cash float drawer and stubbies of beer from a staff room.Leading Sen Const Perry said Burton found a locked safe which he forced open with tools before taking an envelope containing $7000.The court heard Burton was arrested on May 20 in New South Wales after police matched DNA from the stubbies of beer and blood on the safe to Burton.He was extradited from New South Wales to Victoria where he pleaded guilty to burglary with the intention to steal and theft.Defence barrister Andrew Downie told the court his client's offending was fuelled by drugs.He said Burton had been a drug user since he was 17, with the using becoming more frequent and serious over the past few years.But Mr Downie said Burton had weaned himself off drugs after his partner told him he could not see her or their four-year-old son until he was clean.Magistrate Richard Pithouse convicted and sentenced Burton, of Barham, to one month in jail suspended for 12 months for the burglary.He was convicted and placed on a 12-month community based order for the theft.