A DRUG addict who twice raided Nelson fire station - on one occasion threatening a firefighter with a screwdriver - has won his freedom.

Jason Davies, 33, who also invaded a women's charity premises and committed almost another 50 offences in a spree to fund his addiction, was given a chance to kick his habit by a judge.

The defendant was yesterday given a 65 week jail term, suspended for two years, 12 months supervision and a nine month drug rehabilitation requirement, by Judge Beverley Lunt at Burnley Crown Court.

Davies, of Dover Street, Nelson, admitted two burglaries and violent behaviour in a police station. The defendant, who had almost 150 previous convictions and had been on remand, asked for 45 offences to be considered.

A court had earlier heard the defendant struck at the fire station on April 14. At the time he had been on bail and was on licence from a prison term imposed last December.

The court had been told how firefighter Kirt Livesey was on night shift when he was awoken by noises at about 4.30am. He got up from his bunk, went downstairs and saw a figure, armed with a screwdriver, near the fire engines.

Mr Livesey, who was barefoot, followed Davies to try and detain him and found computer equipment had been stacked up.

The court had heard Mr Livesey picked up a chair and went towards the defendant, who escaped through the fire exit.

Philip Holden, defending told the judge since 1996 Davies had been dealt with by a custodial sentence on all but two occasions he had appeared in court.