A FORMER Ipswich kickboxing champion who went of the rails after being kicked him out of the family home at the age of 16 is in prison today.James Harvey, of Blenheim Road, Ipswich, was such a successful fighter he had been told he could teach abroad, but that was before his life started falling apart.

A FORMER Ipswich kickboxing champion who went of the rails after being kicked him out of the family home at the age of 16 is in prison today.

James Harvey, of Blenheim Road, Ipswich, was such a successful fighter he had been told he could teach abroad, but that was before his life started falling apart.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on Monday, the 21-year-old admitted stealing a car, failing to surrender to bail, and breaching a community order. He was sentenced to four months and seven days in prison.

Harvey's fingerprints were found inside a Fiat Uno stolen from Ipswich on April 24 and he did not answer bail on May 4. He was sent to jail for a month for each of these crimes and disqualified from driving for a year.

The court heard Harvey had also breached a community punishment order for the second time.

He was initially given 100 hours community service last December after he admitted stealing £1,500 worth of jewellery from his parents and punching a friend in the head and face during an argument.

Harvey had pawned the ring, chain and charm bracelet he stole on August 12 last year, to pay a drug dealer. He had intended to return the items before they were missed.

District judge David Cooper re-sentenced Harvey to two months in prison for these offences. He was given a further seven days for not paying the victim of his attack £100 in compensation.

Nikki Miller, mitigating, said: "Mr Harvey only really seems to get in trouble when he has been drinking. He accepts that he had been drinking heavily before he took the vehicle. After he was arrested he was in a state of panic so went to see a friend in Norwich, which is why he did not answer to his bail."

"He was a national kickboxing champion but things started to go wrong for him at home when he was 14 or 15. He was asked to leave at the age of 16."

Harvey admitted he had got in with the wrong crowd and had dabbled with drugs since leaving home.

He had consumed four litres of strong cider and a bottle of vodka before assaulting his friend.

On sentencing the district judge said: "You do have certain talents but for some mysterious reason you fell out with your parents and did not get sufficient guidance from them.

"I take it into account that I am not dealing with a hardened criminal. Your record seems to start when you left home. You show a total disregard for people's property and you have a willingness to resort to violence to solve issues."

Harvey denied further offences of criminal damage and making threats to kill and will be tried for these at Ipswich Crown Court on August 4.