A BLACKPOLE dad-of-three will be spending Christmas behind bars after failing to make the most of a last chance given to him by magistrates.

Steven Faizey, aged 21, admitted a string of offences including burglary and possessing offensive weapons earlier this year.

Worcester magistrates deferred sentence in June, on condition Faizey paid his fines, held down a job and did not re-offend.

But on Saturday, July 27, police caught him with a loaded air rifle. He had also failed to keep up with his fine payments.

Faizey, of Saddlers Walk, was jailed for eight months at Worcester Magistrates' Court, yesterday.

Susan Cliff, prosecuting, said police officers were in Drovers Way when a member of the public said they had seen a young man carrying an air rifle.

"Officers went in his direction and found a rifle in the undergrowth," she said. "The defendant approached and accepted that he was the owner."

Suzy Duncan, defending, said Faizey had been trying to develop constructive leisure pursuits and had taken up fishing and target shooting.

"He decided to go and see a local farmer to see if he could go on his land to do target shooting," she said.

"He went to show the farmer what sort of gun it was."

Mrs Duncan said he had only one pellet in the gun and had no other ammunition with him.

"He sees the police officers, and at that point he realises that he is being very foolish taking the weapon out with him.

"He panics and drops it into the bushes."

Magistrates also sentenced Faizey for two burglaries, one while on bail, in March and April this year.

On the first occasion, he was caught with £1,000 of stolen tools in his car.

When police searched his house to follow up the first burglary, they found two knives in his car. He said they were "for his own protection".

Mrs Duncan urged the bench not to send him to prison, pointing out that he had three young children and had another due in three weeks' time.

"His partner doesn't work and the family is relying on him remaining in employment."

Faizey was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to the victim of his first burglary. But magistrates revoked unpaid fines of more than £2,000.