$1,000 in fines -- some dating back five years -- after he made a desperate plea to stay out of jail.

Vance Fubler, 42, got so caught in the moment on Friday he cursed in court, but he left a relieved man.

Fubler told Mr. Warner: "Don't send me to jail now. No, no, please! I've got my s**t together now. Oops! Excuse me, I'm sorry, Mr. Warner. For the last five years I've been out on the streets and messing up. Now I'm working two jobs.'' Fubler was fined $550 for two speeding charges and $200 for having no driving licence.

But Fubler admitted he had "forgotten'' about an $800 fine for wounding and using offensive words imposed on June 15, 1995 and a $100 fine for shoplifting from January 8, 1998.