David Dixon-Armstrong moved into the youth shelter in Wye

by Paul Hooper

'Fallen' jockey David Dixon-Armstrong has beaten the odds and shortened his jail sentence by two months... after a “steward’s” enquiry.

The 62-year-old had been sent to prison for nine months for breaching several court orders earlier this week... despite a plea for another chance to keep his liberty.

But four days later the ex-jockey was brought back to Canterbury Crown Court after Judge Adele Williams reviewed her sentence.

She said that the probation service had made a “maths” error when they calculated the total days he should serve.

And Armstrong – who was living until recently in a youth shelter in Churchfield Way, Wye – was told he now has to serve only seven months for the criminal damage to a police car, assaulting a police officer, assault by beating and two Bail Act offences.

The former rider had been described by his barrister as a “fallen jockey” because of his alcohol problems.

He had been sentenced after failing to attend meetings with the probation service – claiming his driver had stopped for breakfast before the car had broken down.

The Kentish Express had revealed how Armstrong had turned the shelter – designed as a meeting point for youngsters – into a makeshift home.

He brought in a book shelf and a numbers of pot plants and started living there - upsetting some of the locals near the parish church in Wye.

Armstrong, who also worked as a cabbie, had lived in Chilham and Ashdown Court in Ashford before taking over the shelter.

He was described by local vicar , the Rev Ravi Holy as “ a very nice chap” – and the court heard that a church warden had offered him a place to stay.

But Judge Williams retorted: “I wouldn’t want to inflict you on their generosity!”

She added that Armstrong – who has since abandoned his makeshift home – had repeatedly failed to accept help offered to beat his addiction.

After being told his sentence was being shortened, he told the judge: “Thank you!”.