A VIOLENT teenager spared jail by a judge was told: “This is your last chance.”

Recorder Peter Atherton warned Jordan Greer that he could spend the rest of his life going from prison to prison unless he changed his ways.

Greer, aged 19, of Egerton Street, Farnworth, pleaded guilty on Monday to theft and assault. He was part of a gang which forced their way into a man’s home and beat him up before stealing his mountain bike.

He also pleased guilty to burgling his mother’s house.

When he appeared for sentencing at Bolton Crown Court, yesterday, the judge told him: “If I send you back to the young offenders’ institute then you will soon be back out and back to the homelessness, the hopelessness and the company you keep, which is people you have committed crime with in the past.

“This is a last chance for you and I urge you to take it. The probation service will be able to work with you to find accommodation and links into employment which will help you make something of your life. If you don’t then you risk spending your life going from prison to prison.”

Greer, and two others, including a 16-year-old boy, barged their way into Logan Cauldwell’s flat. They kicked and punched him before running off with his bike.

Greer pleaded guilty to burgling his mother’s house in Gladstone Road, Farnworth, on August 17, while she was away on holiday, taking a mobile phone and £20 cash. For the theft and assault he was given a suspended jail term of six months and a 12-month Probation Service supervision order. For the burglaryhe was sentenced to two months, suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently with the sentence for the assault.

Recorder Atherton commented on Greer’s conduct during the Monday hearing: “You had friends in the public gallery and you were putting on a performance for them. In my view, these are not the kind of people you should be hanging out with.”

He warned Greer that he would be back before the courts if he failed to comply with the supervision order.