A 36-YEAR-OLD Accrington man was threatened with a prison sentence if he breached a 'last chance' probation order.

Lonnie Lonsdale, of Portland Street, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to his sixth offence of driving while disqualified. But the stipendiary magistrate said he was going to give him a chance by putting him on probation for 12 months, with a condition that he attends the responsible drivers programme.

"I am giving you a chance, although you do not deserve it," said Mr Jonathon Finestein. "I reserve any breach of this order to myself and be under no illusions, if you do breach it, I will send you to prison for as long as I can."

Martin Heyes, defending, said Lonsdale had come to court expecting to be sent to prison. "I wonder if that will have the desired effect of preventing him from doing this in the future," he said.

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