A JUDGE has given a repeat offender a second chance after he wrote a heartfelt letter to the court saying he wanted to get out of prison to get away from drugs.

Jake Bannister caused almost £7,000 worth of damage to his flat in a drug and alcohol-fuelled rampage back in April.

A police negotiator later had to be called after he climbed onto the roof of his building and threatened to jump off the ledge, before throwing items down onto Rainhill Road in Barnoldswick.

Throughout the evening he also smashed a window, threatening to cut himself with broken glass.

He was arrested by officers and remanded into custody before being found guilty of destroying property and affray at Magistrates.

However a Crown Court Judge has now given the 29-year-old a chance to get his life on track after the defendant wrote him a heartfelt letter detailing his plans to turn his life around and attend college – adding it was difficult to stay away from drugs in prison where the use of them is ‘rife’.

Speaking during the video-link hearing, Bannister spoke about his ambitions to study electrical enginerring at Burnley College in September, saying it was something he wanted to do 'for himself'.

Addressing him, Judge Philip Parry said: “I’m going to give you a chance and I will adjourn the sentencing until September.

“You will be bailed on two conditions and if you abide by those conditions and continue making good progress on your current community orders, when I see you again in September I will not interrupt your good progress – in other words I will pass a sentence which will allow you to remain on your college course.

“If between now and then I find out that you haven’t abided by those orders or if you leave the address, you’ll be in breach of bail and you’ll be arrested and come back before me. I’ll send you back to prison, you know that. You’ll lose your college course.

"Your letter is very well written, I was very impressed – particularly by your plea in it to get you out of there because drugs are rife and you want to turn your back on drugs.

“But I have to tell you if you don’t take this opportunity I’ll have no option but to send you back to custody and all of these great things that you have around you at the moment will be taken away.

“This is your chance, don’t blow it.”

Bannister must not leave his mother’s home address in Trawden, Pendle, where his family plan to support him as leaves custody.

He must also comply to the two orders already placed upon him for a previous offence.

He will appear again before Judge Parry in September for sentencing.