YOUNG thug Karl Telfer has been given a last chance by a judge after failing on a drug treatment and testing order.

The 20-year-old, who dragged a woman along the road by her handbag, has been told he will face a jail term if he doesn't stay on the straight and narrow for three months.

But, if he manages to keep his job and stay off drugs, the mugger may escape custody.

A judge at Swindon Crown Court heard that he had been thrown off the drug treatment and testing order, designed to get him off heroin, after just six months.

Telfer had provided some positive urine samples showing he had continued to use drugs and he had also failed to turn up for appointments.

Stephen Mooney, defending, said that while his client had failed on the order he had not committed any new offences so it had succeeded in a way.

He said that Telfer now had a job, making it difficult for him to comply with the regime of testing and treatment.

Deferring the sentence, Judge Charles Wade said that a drug treatment and testing order was a direct alternative to custody and that was still an option.

He said: "I am going to put off sentencing for three months.

"This isn't putting it off and putting it off, this is a last chance."

The judge told Telfer that he expected him to stay in employment, keep himself in suitable accommodation and stay off drugs.

"If you have complied with those conditions there is a reasonable chance of you not going to prison a good chance," he said.

"If you don't, or show your motivation is suspect, then it is to be prison."

Heroin addict Telfer was living with his sister when he launched a vicious attack on recruitment consultant Stephanie Toon in spring last year.

He left his sister's flat on the morning of March 22 and stole a new cheque book sent to one of her neighbours which had arrived that morning in the post.

In a bid to get money to feed his addiction he tried to cash one of the cheques for £250 at The Money Shop on Commercial Road, but was unsuccessful.

Minutes later he saw Miss Toon.

As she was crossing the road on to Deacon Street she felt a tug on her handbag from behind and turned to see Telfer pulling on it.

She refused to let go of her bag and was thrown to the ground.

He pulled at it as hard as he could and she was dragged along the road towards an alleyway.

A passer-by stepped in and Telfer fled.

He was caught when members of the public gave chase both on foot and in cars.

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

He was ordered to live with his mother in Alexander Close, Cirencester.

He was also subjected to a six-month curfew in a bid to prevent him returning to Swindon and his old drug-taking friends.