A FORMER drug addict who failed to keep in touch with the probation service has been given a second chance by magistrates.

Ryan Taylor, 36, formerly of Boldrewood. Liden, was said to have turned up for an induction appointment with probation officers in April – but they had not heard from him since.

Defending, Jonathan Lewis said Taylor and his partner were homeless and, having previously been clean, his client had relapsed into drug addiction.

However, Taylor was now on a methadone prescription, was working with drugs rehabilitation service Turning Point and trying to scrape enough money together for a deposit on a flat.

The former builder’s apprentice was also returning to college to refresh his memory of the skills of the trade.

Magistrates let the order continue, but marked the breach by ordering him to do 20 hours’ unpaid work.

Chairman of the bench Hatty Stafford-Charles said: “We expect it to be done. If the probation service comes back and say you’re still not complying it’s going to be a whole different story.”