A MAN who was terrified of going back to prison stole one of his father's cheques, forged his signature and used it to pay off fines owing to Blackburn magistrates.

And the same court heard that the timely payment, which had been honoured by the bank, had cleared Darren Jepson's debt and averted the threat of prison.

Jepson, 23, of Mersey Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty to obtaining £270 by deception from the Co-operative Bank, forging a cheque made payable to the Clerk to the Justices, and avoiding payment.

He was put on probation for six months and ordered to pay £270 compensation to the bank.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said Robert Jepson had contacted his bank after noticing that his account was missing £270. The bank was able to tell him that a cheque for that amount had been paid to Blackburn Magistrates' Court. Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Jepson was scared "witless" of going back to prison.

"He has been sent to prison on the last five or six occasions he has appeared before the courts," said Mr Farnsworth. "He has spent a large part of his youth in prison and has developed a fear and hatred of it.

"He has told me of some horrendous incidents that have happened to him in prison and while I do not intend to detail with those here it is fair to say that he is scared witless of going back," said Mr Farnsworth.

He said Jepson had started to settle down and get some order in his life immediately prior to the offences. He had a girlfriend and had got his own flat which he had furnished.

"Things were looking slightly rosier for him until he began to receive fine default notices and eventually a letter saying if he did not pay he would go to prison," said Mr Farnsworth.

"He freaked out and stole the cheque while visiting his parents. Clearly, as soon as the theft was discovered the finger pointed straight at my client."

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