A HOMELESS man caught towing a stolen £10,000 caravan with a 4x4 vehicle that had also been stolen has avoided jail today.

Shaun Collett, 30, who was street sleeping in Oxford, at the time of his arrest, had been pressurised into the offences by a gang of men who gave him £30 and then intimidated him, Gloucester crown court was told.

Poliice stopped him on the A44 at Evesham on February 24 this year when he was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero car owned by Nikki Blewett of Claverham Road, Yatton, nr Bristol, and towing a Bailey caravan stolen from Nigel Stevens, of Villa Farm, Elmstone Hardwicke, near Cheltenham.

Collett had been charged with stealing the caravan and a jury trial was scheduled to get under way.

But after negotiations between prosecution and defence Collett admitted dishonestly handling the car and caravan.

The prosecution then dropped the theft charge.

Collett, who is in poor health as a result of drugs and alcohol but has now conquered his addictions, was given a 10 months jail term suspended for a year. He was also placed under supervision for 12 months.

The prosecution said the thefts of the vehicles had caused problems for both owners.

Mrs Blewett needed her Pajero because she owns horses - while Mr Stevens had to pay an insurance excess and was no longer able to keep his caravan where he had previously stored it because the insurers would not cover it there.

Jo Hall, probation officer, told the court Collett had been homeless for seven years and at the time of the offences had no money and no benefits. Three men approached him in Oxford, where he was 'street sleeping', gave him £30 because they said they felt sorry for him, but then turned nasty and drove him to a place where the car and caravan were waiting, she said.

He felt frightened and intimidated and agreed to drive the combination to a nearby services area but did not make it because the police stopped him first.

Since the offence Collett had made 'significant progress' in his life and had a place in a homeless hostel, she said.

He is a recovering alcoholic who last drank 3 years ago, saidd Miss Hall. The death of his partner from liver disease caused by alcohol had prompted him to give up.

He had also stopped using heroin after being warned he might lose both his legs, she said. He still has DVT in one leg.

Collett has got two children aged 11 and 13 and hopes to be able to resume contact with them, she added.

Judge Michael Cullum told Collett "Of course you knew that the Pajero and caravan were stolen. You knew that because of the people you were dealing with and the circumstances in which they asked you to do some driving. You knew you were vulnerable, you knew you were being used and you were trying to close your mind to it."

It was 'deeply impressive' that Collett had now tackled his drink and drug issues, the judge added.