A DANGEROUS driver has been given a final chance to stay out of prison after he agreed to work with the probation service and do unpaid community work.

Michael Foskett received a four-month suspended sentence in February and was brought back to Exeter Crown Court because he has failed to do any of the 100 hours unpaid work which was ordered.

He was spared an immediate jail sentence after telling a judge he had been living rough in a car or a caravan on Dartmoor and did not know about the appointments.

The unemployed chef plans to move away from Devon to live with his mother in Ipswich, where he will complete his work with the probation service.

Foskett received his suspended sentence for driving dangerously during a police chase through the centre of Newton Abbot in which he almost hit a pedestrian on a pelican crossing.

He drove his unroadworthy black BMW through red lights, knocked wing mirrors off parked cars, and went at 70 mph in a 30 mph zone.

The chase started when the police tried to stop him on Jetty Marsh Road in November last year and went through Kingsteignton Road and Highweek Street before he lost the police by doing 70 mph up Ashburton Road.

Foskett, aged 21, formerly of Buckfast Road, Buckfastleigh but now homeless admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for four months, suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid community work at Exeter Crown Court in February.

He admitted breaching the order and Recorder Mr Stephen Parish imposed a further 25-hour unpaid community work, which he will do under the supervision of the probation service in Suffolk.

He told him: ’You have come very close to going to prison today but I am just persuaded to give you a chance. These seemed to be deliberate breaches. You just decided you were not going to do it.’

Mr Ian Graham, prosecuting, said Foskett’s only engagement with probation in Devon had been to turn up for a two-hour induction course in March. He had then lost contact.

Mr Barry White, mitigating, said Foskett had not known of many appointments because he was sofa surfing with friends or living rough in abandoned vehicles on Dartmoor.

He had no means of charging his phone and official letters were being sent to an address in Fairfield Terrace, Newton Abbot, which he only visited on rare occasions.

He said: ’He is still very keen to work with the probation service. He is like a puppy who needs remedial training.’

The judge called Foskett into the witness box to confirm he was able to return to live with his mother in Ipswich.

Foskett said: ’I messaged her on Facebook four days ago through wi-fi and she said I could make a clean start away from the corruption of my life in Devon.

’She has a three or four bedroomed house and I want to get into a career in business or management and to comply with this probation order.

’I missed appointments because of the prevailing circumstances in which I found myself. I was more focused on finding somewhere to stay and getting something to eat.’