A MAN who drove a friend on a revenge mission to petrol-bomb a rival's car has been given a final chance by a judge.

Timothy Bradley was spared jail by Judge Les Spittle, but warned he would be locked up if he got into trouble again.

Bradley, 22, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday and admitted breaching a community punishment order imposed last year for possessing articles with intent to destroy property.

Judge Spittle heard how Bradley had carried out only 25 of the 220 hours imposed under the order since June, but accepted arguments that Bradley's life was chaotic and that he had been homeless at the time after he separated from his partner.

Judge Spittle revoked the order and replaced it with a two-year community rehabilitation order, and said: "If you breach, it will be two strikes and you're out; out means a custodial sentence."

Bradley, whose new address was given in court as Elmfield Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, had been in custody for three weeks after he was arrested for the breaches.

Judge Spittle said: "You were given the chance and you did not comply with the opportunity that was given.

"One of the consequences, you have already experienced; you have had a period in custody so you know what it is like.

"What goes in your favour is that you have not committed any further offences and kept out of trouble. I think we can work with you and keep you out of custody."

Johanne Kidd, prosecuting, told the court that Bradley was recruited by another man to drive around Newton Aycliffe to find the car of a man he believed had smashed windows at his girlfriend's home.

Police tried to stop Bradley's Rover Metro, but he drove off and reached up to 65mph in a 30mph zone.

When the driver lost control and police arrested the pair, they found two baseball bats and beer bottles filled with petrol and rags.