MAGISTRATES say they have given a man from Deeping St James one final chance to turn his life around.
Lewis Tripp (20) was told the next bench may not be able to consider anything but custody as he was handed a suspended prison sentence on Thursday.
Tripp, of Hereward Way, appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced for taking a vehicle without consent, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and being in breach of a community order.
He also entered a guilty plea to one further charge of criminal damage to a fence.
Jill Darby, prosecuting said the motoring offences were uncovered following an incident on August 14, when Tripp was pursued by car and on foot by two police officers.
The court heard Tripp kicked at a fence on November 17 following a “heated exchange” with a former girlfriend in relation to the criminal damage charge.
The community order breach related to two missed appointments and failing to notify the probation service of a changed address in November. The order had been imposed in March following a conviction for driving whilst disqualified and driving without due care and attention.
In defence, Mike Alexander said Tripp suffered from mental health problems and was suspected to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He told the court Tripp’s long-term relationship with his pregnant partner had broken down after he lost his job and he has been denied access to the child since its birth.
Mr Alexander said Tripp had since moved back home to his parents and was getting help for his problems.
“This is a young man who had been willing to complete the community order up to that point,” he said. “He has now got a stable home life with his parents and they are taking him to his appointments and unpaid work appointments.
“They will do whatever they can to make sure their son does not end up in prison.”
Presiding magistrate George Hoyles gave Tripp a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for the motoring offences, and a further 16-week suspended sentence, to run concurrently, for breaching the community order.
Tripp was banned from driving for two years and given an 18-month supervision order. He must also pay £10 compensation to Julie Amphlett for damaging the fence.
Mr Hoyles told him: “Do not think you have got off lightly,. This is your last chance to stay out of custody. Think more and learn about life, do what they ask you to do and come out a better person.”