A 50-YEAR-OLD homeless man was given his wish of Christmas in prison when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates.

The court heard David Woodward had breached a non-molestation order taken out by his 77-year-old mum.

But Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said she was the only person who would show him any kindness or generosity.

“In desperate circumstances he went back to his mother’s home on three occasions,” said Mr Church-Taylor. “On the first she gave him his Christmas present and card and £5, on the second she gave him the £3.50 he asked for but when he came back a third time she called the police.”

Mr Church-Taylor said Woodward accepted and in fact wanted to go to prison.

“His only prospect of a roof over his head and a Christmas dinner is to be in prison,” said Mr Church-Taylor. “It’s not ideal but it will protect his mother over the Christmas period.”

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the three visits to his mother’s home in Darwen were in a six day period.

He said in August he had been made subject to a suspended prison sentence for breaching the non-molestation order and in September for a further breach he was jailed for 16 weeks.