A DEPRESSED musician who was spared jail for drugs offences said he was not fit to do unpaid work, even though he was still advertising himself as available to perform, a court heard.

Lucien Cox showed probation officers a sick note from his doctor signing him off work after they said he was in breach of his suspended sentence.

But despite his ailments they found the 29-year-old was still 'marketing himself on social media for gigs', Swindon Crown Court was told.

And after telling him he had run out of chances, a judge jailed him for 14 months, saying the only consolation would be that he would be out by Christmas.

Cox, of Markham Close, Walcot, was put on a suspended sentence last November after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

He was spared jail after a judge in Bristol heard how he had been caught with a quarter of an ounce of the drug, which he was going to share with friends at a party.

But in the following six months he failed to complete any of the 100 hours of unpaid work and also did not turn up regularly for supervision.

Charles Thomas, prosecuting, said: "In November last year the defendant was made subject to a suspended sentence of 18 months with an operational period of two years.

"He was also required to do 100 hours of unpaid work, was subject to supervision and was also required to do a thinking skills course. It would appear there has been very little compliance with that order."

He said he had not turned up for any unpaid work since before Christmas and was still completing the hours from a previous order.

At the time of his last attendance for work he still had 124 hours and 15 minutes left to do on both orders.

"What led directly to the breach is the defendant attended a meeting with probation on March 26. He became angry and abusive and stormed out of the meeting.

"He was sent a warning letter and offered appointments on April 1 and April 13: he did not attend either of those.

"He has subsequently provided a sick note indicating he should have been off work for the best part of three months from January 20 to April 16.

"The author of the breach report complains of a lack of cooperation, a lack of willingness to discuss living arrangements with probation officers."

Mr Thomas added: "His profession is that of a musician and he seems to have been marketing himself on social media for gigs in the New Year."

Rob Ross, defending, said that he had been signed off work by the doctor because he was suffering from depression.

"He wouldn't be the first person who suffers from depression but is fine on stage," he told the court.

Mr Ross said he was also involved in caring for his children from a previous relationship, looking after them when their mum is at work.

Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Peter Blair QC, said: "When they imposed that suspended sentence they would have made clear to you that you had to comply with the requirements imposed on you otherwise the court would bring you back and probably sent you to prison.

"Your compliance with court orders is pretty desperate.

"You have been given loads of opportunities and I am not going to give you another chance. What you have got to look forward to is you will be out for Christmas."