A TEENAGER who torched a car just weeks after Swindon Borough Council decided not to seek a full ASBO on him has been spared jail.

Shaun Kingsman smashed the windscreen of the two-year-old Peugeot 107 before setting it on fire on Horsham Road, Park South.

But after hearing the 19-year-old, who breached the interim ASBO, was trying to change his ways after getting a job as a plasterer a judge has given him a last chance.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said car owner Tariq Ellahi was at home at about 1am on Sunday, September 27, when he heard a noise outside.

When he looked out of the window he saw flames coming from his vehicle and the defendant riding away on a bicycle.

She said he was arrested and admitted what he had done, saying he saw his girlfriend get in the car with Mr Ellahi earlier that night and he thought he had been drinking.

He told police he got a brink and started out smashing the windscreen and after that decided to set light to it.

"At the end of the interview he said he was glad he had done it. The car was a complete write-off," Miss Squire said.

Kingsman, of Banwell Avenue, Park North, pleaded guilty to one count of arson.

The court the defendant had a long record of crime and was given a two-year detention and training order in 2013 for robbery.

He was also convicted earlier this year of writing on the walls at the magistrates' court of most recently for breaching an interim ASBO earlier this month.

That order was made in March but after six months it was decided not to seek a full ASBO against him and nine other teenagers who had been said to be plaguing Walcot.

Paul Trotman, defending, said that his client had been having problem completing unpaid work on previous orders as he now had a job.

He said that he had been upset because he thought the victim had been drink driving and he thought taking the vehicle off the road would be a good thing.

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC said: "I have heard about these explanations for why you committed this offence.

"It shows an immature thinking and it seems as though you had quite a lot to drink when you did it.

"The courts are quickly running out of patience with you in terms growing up and becoming a responsible citizen.

"It seems you are motivated to get yourself up and earning a living. It seems you have not been motivated with the unpaid work.

"It would be destroying some of the good things if I were to send you to prison today but this is the very, very, last chance.

"If you don't comply you will be going back inside you found a deeply unpleasant experience when you went in for that detention and training order."

He imposed a one year jail term suspended for 18 months with 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and a thinking skills programme.

The judge also ordered he pay £500 compensation, £100 victim surcharge and £180 criminal courts charge.