A man who ‘gets into trouble after a drink’ has been given the gift of being allowed to have a drink over Christmas, if he behaves.

Ross Hoyle, 27, has been told his alcohol monitoring tag will be temporarily removed for Christmas if he does not get into bother with the police, and does not drink any alcohol between now and then.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Hoyle was driving down Market Street in Shawforth on March 16, 2021, while under the influence of alcohol, without insurance and without a licence.

He tried to overtake a car dangerously, but changed his mind at the last minute, and was later stopped by police.

Hoyle, of Westgate, Whitworth, who has several previous convictions, especially when under the influence of alcohol, was spared jail and given an 11-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge Andrew Jeffries KC said alcohol was the route of Hoyle’s offending but agreed his life does appear to have taken a turn for the better after moving in with his sister.

Judge Jeffries said: “When you were before me most recently, I was told things had taken a turn for the better, particularly with alcohol which is why I bailed you.

“The report is positive and you say your drinking has stopped.

“I’m going to take you at your word, but you will be on alcohol monitoring requirement.

“If you have kept to the monitoring, not removed the tag and stayed alcohol-free, I will allow you to have a drink at Christmas as a reward.

“If you breach it, not only will you not be drinking at Christmas, you will be inside [prison].

“I am hoping from what I have read in the report and the good influence of your sister, you playing dad to her children, I hope things are on the mend.

“If they are then you won’t go to prison and you can have a drink over Christmas as a reward.

“If I have just made a fool of myself then I will see you again before Christmas and you will serve the 11 months.”

Hoyle, who previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving, driving with no insurance and driving with no licence, will be put on the three-month alcohol treatment requirement tag, however, if he complies from now until December 19, it will be removed over the festive period.

He is also banned from driving for three years.