A MAN convicted of dangerous driving has been jailed after breaching the curfew order in his suspended sentence.

Bolton Crown Court heard that in July 2019 Kyle Ashcroft was convicted of dangerous driving, two offences of criminal damage and a charge of handling stolen goods.

And on September 25, 2020, he was handed a sentence of 16 months suspended for two years along with a curfew for two months and told to carry out an 18-month drug rehabilitation requirement order.

But between October 25 and November 8 last year he breached the curfew in a series of time violations and failed to provide excuses for the breaches.

On Thursday, the 32-year-old admitted the breaches in court.

Suzanne Hargreaves, prosecuting on behalf of the probation service, said he was due to attend court on November 13 but did not turn up and a warrant was issued.

His compliance with the orders was described in a report as "somewhat mixed", Ms Hargreaves said.

She also said Ashcroft, of Maple Crescent, Leigh, was arrested and appeared before magistrates last Saturday in regards to driving charges on September 3, 2020.

He pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident, disqualified driving, failing to give his name and address after an accident, driving uninsured and driving without due care and attention, Ms Hargreaves said.

She said he was sentenced to 20 weeks and disqualified from driving for three years.

Ms Hargreaves has been told there are other incidents under investigation too.

She added: "He remains as medium risk of reoffending and medium risk of serious harm due to historic violent matters."

Claire Brocklehurst, defending, said Ashcroft has shown "willingness" to keep in contact with the probation service and is engaging on some occasions.

He is "making progress" with his drug rehabilitation efforts, she said.

She added that he has paid employment available to him as a roofer when he is released from jail, and has a partner who he has four young children with and wishes to be involved in their lives as much as possible.

Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, said that as "act of mercy" he would order the 16-month sentence to run concurrently with the 20-week term he is already serving.

He told Ashcroft: "You are currently in custody having received a sentence of 20 weeks imprisonment for offences committed prior to the imposition of the suspended sentence order.

"The position is that the compliance with the suspended sentence order was poor.

"There were persistent marginal breaches of the curfew on a number of a occasions.

"It is clear your progress under the terms of the order, which was mainly to address your drug-related problems, was poor.

"I am satisfied that it is appropriate to activate the suspended sentence."