YOUNG offender Lee Turner has decided to turn his life around after a Corsham businessman showed faith in him by defending him in court earlier this year.

But he says that before he can wipe the slate clean, he may have to go to prison for non-payment of fines that he can't afford.

Mr Turner, 19, of Pockeridge Road, Corsham, has led a life of crime since he was seven years old but he decided to turn his back on it after financial consultant John Pacitto gave him a chance.

Mr Pacitto defended Mr Turner in court back in January and told magistrates that he had faith in the young man and wanted to help him get back on the straight and narrow.

The magistrates said Mr Pacitto's intervention stopped Mr Turner from being sent to prison but he had to stay out of trouble, keep working and pay his fines.

Mr Turner returned to court on May 8 so that magistrates could reassess his situation.

"I lost my job as soon as they checked to see if I had a criminal record. I have been looking for work everywhere but with my history no one will even look at me," he said.

He has since been working voluntarily at his local community centre.

After losing his job, Mr Turner was unable to pay off fines from previous convictions.

"I turned myself in at court because I thought there would be a warrant for my arrest for not paying fines," he said.

"The guards were really shocked and said no one had ever done that before and I really must have changed."

Magistrates gave Mr Turner three weeks to find a job and start paying his fines again.

He will appear in court on June 2.

He said: "I can't get a job and the only way I can pay my fines is to go to prison.

Mr Pacitto said he was disappointed Mr Turner had not held down a job.

But he said he was still a reformed character.

"He has kept out of trouble and he is doing community work. He is a reformed criminal and he has made good in that respect," he said.