A MAN who escaped a jail term after a £6,250 betting shop scam is now behind bars after flouting the community order he was given for the third time.

Amjad Aslam was caught after he increased one of his victim's bank accounts from £850 to £76,000 and tried to get the winnings put into another account, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, 21, was sent to custody for 12 weeks by a judge who said it was "quite remarkable" he had walked free in the first place.

Judge Barbara Watson said Aslam had not complied with a Think First programme but the probation service no longer wished to offer it him.

The defendant, of Newton Drive, Accrington, had admitting breaching the community order, which included 80 hours unpaid work and a curfew. It had been imposed after he admitted deception offences which took place in 2004. He had completed most of the work and had complied with the curfew.

Judith McCullough, for the probation service, said Aslam had set up accounts with bookmakers Stan James UK. One was in his own name and for the others he used the names and credit card details of people he had got while working for a cash and carry. He then placed bets using £6,250 from the victims' funds.

One of the accounts containing £850 went up to £76,000 with bet winnings.

The defendant contacted the company trying to persuade them to transfer the cash into another account.

That sounded warning bells and when Stan James UK investigated, it was found Aslam had set up all the accounts.Philip Holden, defending, said Aslam, who had been arrested after failing to turn up for court, had lost his liberty for the first time and had a terrible time on remand.

The court had given him opportunities in the past to complete the order but he had been working long hours at Express Gifts, Nelson, and that partly was why he failed to comply.