A 'VERY naive' 22-year-old Stroud man who took part in a violent robbery in the town has today been given a chance to sort his life out - despite twice breaching a court order.

Almost a year ago, Rufus Jenson, formerly of Gloucester road, Stroud, received a one-year community order with 30 days rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work for his role in robbing a 16-year-old boy in Stroud.

Last week he was due before Gloucester Crown Court for his second breach of the terms of his order but he did not attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Today he appeared before the court in custody after handing himself in to the police when he heard about the warrant.

The court was told he has been leading a chaotic lifestyle lately and after running up a £2,000 rent debt he went to live with his mother in Dursley.

His barrister, Robert Morgan-Jones, said "He is 22 chronologically but I have to say that in terms of maturity he is much less than that.

"When he was in his teens he became a quasi carer for his mum who is in very poor health and in a wheelchair.

“Relationships between them became strained and he found his own accommodation in Stroud. He found work and had jobs in retail and labouring.

"But he found himself falling into relationships with people with more experience than him and he started taking drugs and alcohol in significant quantities.

"It led to him committing the robbery in 2015 but he played very much a lesser role. He was involved with someone else in demanding a cigarette from the victim but then the other person became violent.

"When he received the community order from the court last year he was living with friends in the Forest of Dean but transport and accommodation became a problem.

“He never managed to get any Benefits sorted out and that led to him breaching his sentence last October - at about the time his brother committed suicide.

"He went back into supported accommodation at that time but did not get money sorted out and  by November was out on the streets. He spent Christmas on the streets. His mother took him back and he spent January and February with her in Dursley. He was trying to get his life back on track.

"Then the bailiffs started knocking on the door, scaring his mother silly. She asked him to leave.

"Last night, knowing there was a warrant outstanding for him, he handed himself into the police. "

Judge Jamie Tabor QC commented "He is in a complete mess."

Mr Morgan-Jones said: "Yes, but there are causes for hope. He has not committed any further offences. He is adamant he has not been taking any illegal substances at all this year. "

The barrister said Jenson had now resolved to see a doctor to get help with his depression, sort out his Benefits payments and find permanent accommodation.

"Until now he has given a real impression of someone burying his head in the sand," he said.

"He apologises to the court. The fact he handed himself in could be a sign that he is now going to be proactive. He is very frightened of going to prison."

A woman in the public gallery then indicated to the judge that she was Jenson's best friend and he could stay with her at her home in Gloucester until he sorts things out.

The judge asked the woman, Sam McGee, to come into the witness box and she confirmed she had a room where he could stay.

Judge Tabor told Jenson he would give him until April 4 to sort his life out by getting benefits, medical help and accommodation. In the meantime it would be a condition of the deferment that he stayed with Ms McGee, he said.

"I don't think the existing order is going to work so it is going to have to be a curfew or, I'm afraid, Bristol Prison," he said.

"Your life is a mess and some of it is of your own making and some of it is not. A lot of it is due to your considerable immaturity. You are more like a 14 year old than a 22 year old and you are going to have to grow up and grow up fast. Sign on, find yourself accommodation, and we will see if we can get you back on the right road."

Last March, the court was told that the sixteen year old robbery victim was sitting in Bank Gardens, Stroud, with friends and was punched, throttled, spat on and robbed by two young men, one of them Jenson.

Jenson took a bag from the victim while his accomplice carried out the assault.

The other offender was sentenced to 19 months custody.