A JUDGE has warned a Bewdley man if he breaches a court order again he will consider it 'a gross contempt' and send him straight to jail.

Joseph Carter, of Blackacre, Bewdley, was given a stern warning by his honour Judge Robert Juckes QC about the importance of obeying court orders and remaining in contact with the probation service when he appeared before him at Worcester Crown Court.

The 32-year-old admitted the breach of the 12 month community order which involved completing 100 hours of unpaid work.

Anna Midgley, prosecuting, said Carter had failed to let the probation service know of a change of address but asked if the order could continue but with a punitive element added.

Robert Morgan-Jones, defending, said Carter was adamant he attended court on October 4, last year 'under his own steam' and tried to speak to the probation service.

Mr Morgan-Jones said: "He thereafter waited but did not receive any correspondence.

“There was quite a lot going on in his life. He moved to his new address in November."

He was supposed to attend the court on December 23, last year but failed to do so and was arrested on New Year's Eve and was held in custody between that date and January 2.

Mr Morgan-Jones said: "He described it as the most unpleasant experience he has ever had.

“He has never spent any time in custody. He's anxious not to repeat it."

Judge Juckes said: "There are those who think you have been lucky to get through to this point without losing your liberty.

"You have completely failed to keep in touch with the probation service.

“I do want to make it absolutely clear: If you do breach this order again I'm going to reserve this to myself and you will go down.

"It won't be a particularly long sentence. It will be something in the region of three to six months inside. You have got to comply with this order.

"Failure to do so is a gross contempt of this court's order."

The judge added a further 15 hours of unpaid work to the 100 hours on his existing community order and ordered him to pay £90 costs.