YOUNG offender Lee Turner, who was given four months to turn around his life of crime, has failed and was jailed on Monday.

Turner, 20, of Corsham, who has 11 previous convictions, was saved from an almost certain custodial sentence in January when financial business consultant John Pacitto stood up in court to vouch for him.

The court said it was Mr Pacitto's submission that prevented them from sending Turner to jail.

But unable to find work and with fines of £937.74 from previous convictions Turner became convinced the only way to clear his debts and make a fresh start was prison.

At Chippenham Magistrates Court on Monday he was sentenced to a month in jail for failing to satisfy the terms of a conditional discharge for crimes of which he was convicted in January, including carrying offensive weapons.

Michael Jeary, defending, told the court it was sad that at age 20 Turner saw the only way of dealing with his problems was with a stretch in prison.

"Lee Turner is not Corsham's most desperate criminal," he said. "Foremost in this young man's mind is that he owes an insurmountable figure to the court."

Mr Jeary said Turner had set his mind against complying with the probation services.

"He's putting you in a corner and not giving you much option," Mr Jeary told the magistrates.

He told the court Turner saw his future as 'I will go to prison for however long and will then make a new start.'

The court heard how Turner, of Pockeridge Road, in Corsham, told his girlfriend and parents that he was going to prison before he went to court on Monday.

Mr Pacitto said he was moved to help Turner after he rescued a child who ran out in front of a car.

But the businessman admitted he became disillusioned with Turner's lack of commitment to change his life.