A man who has completed just 101 hours of a 240-hour community service order in eight years has been warned a prison sentence was hanging over him.

Adrian Richards, a construction manager of Suffolk Way, Walton, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday accused of being in breach of the order imposed by Ipswich Magistrates in April 1996, for driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The court was told Richards had said he was unable to do the hours arranged during the week because of his work, and a project at a primary school had been set up for him at the weekend. However, he failed to turn up to that as well.

Magistrates warned him he had come close to going to prison and a prison sentence was hanging over him if he failed to comply with the order, which they agreed should be allowed to continue to run.

But he was told the 240 hours originally imposed would have normally been done in a year.

Richards was also fined £50 for being in breach of the order

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette