A YOUNG thug who dragged a woman along the road by her handbag may still escape a jail term even though he failed on his 'last chance'.

Karl Telfer asked a judge to remand him in custody because he was unable to stay off drugs in the community.

But despite telling him he was on his last chance in February, Judge Charles Wade told him he may again dodge custody.

Telfer, 21, of Groundwell Road, had been put on a drug treatment and testing order after admitting the attempted handbag theft.

But he was thrown off the programme after six months when he failed drug tests.

The court heard that while he had failed drug tests he had not re-offended.

However he was back in court yesterday to confess that he was still using drugs.

Richard Shepherd, defending, said: "He returns to court saying he is using drugs at a low level and needs assistance to remain drug free and is unable to do that on his own."

Mr Shepherd asked the court to adjourn the matter for two months with his client in custody so can kick his habit.

He added that after the previous hearing, Telfer and his solicitor had contacted DrugLink for help but they never got back in touch.

Judge Wade said that he was putting off the case as it had a number of unusual elements.

Telfer was living with his sister when he launched a vicious attack on recruitment consultant Stephanie Toon.

He left his sister's flat on the morning of Monday, March 22 last year and stole a posted chequebook sent to one of her neighbours.

After failing to cash one of the cheques at The Money Shop on Commercial Road, he saw Miss Toon and as she crossed the road on to Deacon Street she felt a tug on her handbag from behind and turned to see Telfer.

She refused to let go of the bag and was thrown to the ground, at the same time as shouting at him that there was nothing of value in the handbag. But Tefler pulled at it so hard that she was dragged towards an alleyway.

A passerby stepped in and Telfer fled, but was caught by members of the public.

After spending three months in custody on remand Judge John McNaught gave him a chance to reform his ways by imposing an 18-month drug treatment and testing order after he admitted assault with intent to rob, theft and attempted deception.

Jamie Hill