A JUDGE has given a teenager convicted of three burglaries a last chance to avoid prison.

Josh Potter, 18, was given three weeks to comply with a supervision order when he appeared before Judge William Hart at Gloucester Crown Court.

Potter, of North Home Road, Cirencester, was convicted of the burglaries and failing to surrender to bail in August. He was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence with 100 hours of unpaid work and compulsory attendance on a substance abuse programme.

Richard Shepherd, for the probation service, told the court Potter had failed to attend appointments with the probation service and had made no contact to give reasons for his absence.

"He does well when he does attend but he then drops off the radar and gives no explanation," Mr Shepherd said. "The probation service see no alternative to an activation of the suspended sentence."

Steve Young, for Potter, said he did not contact the probation service about his absences as he was living with his father and there was a falling out between them.

"His father made it a condition of his returning to live at his home that Mr Potter find a job but he had not been able to do so," he added.

"There was pressure on him to find a job and so he walked out. He went to live at his mother’s address in the Swindon area. The missed appointments were all during this period.

"He is now living with his father again in Cirencester, and since he was convicted, there have been no further offences and he has been able to obtain benefits."

Judge Hart said that when people did contact the probation service to say they could not make appointments, they almost invariably received any help and support they needed.

Adjourning the case for three weeks Judge Hart told Potter: "If you fail to do what the probation service ask and keep up your end of the bargain, I will activate the suspended sentence immediately."