A MAN staring jail in the face if he did not behave himself has kept his freedom - and won a pat on the back from a judge.

Tony Savoini, 20, had had sentence deferred for five months to prove he could keep his nose clean and Judge Raymond Bennett had told him if he did he would not go to prison.

Burnley Crown Court heard the defendant, of Norfolk Grove, Church, had not been in any more trouble since he was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm in April. He was given a 12 months community rehabilitation order by the judge who said he would be asking for up-to-date reports every three months.