Prison for man who defied court order

An Airdrie man has been jailed for choosing alcohol over a court order.

Paul McKenzie, of Cara Place, twice breached a community payback order given to him for behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his former partner on Hogmanay 2017.

His defence solicitor cited an alcohol addiction as the reason for the 42-year-old’s order falling by the wayside.

When McKenzie appeared at court last month, he was warned to“expect”a custodial sentence when returning upon the completion of reports.

That warning rang true last week when Sheriff Frank Pieri sentenced him to three months behind bars.

Addressing Sheriff Pieri, McKenzie’s defence solicitor said: “It’s not lost on him that your first thought here is custody.

“You may be left with little option but I ask you to give him one more opportunity.

“He acknowledges he has an alcohol problem and has been unable to comply with the order.

“He’s frank about this but is in a better frame of mind now.

“He has no other matters outstanding and, as an alternative to custody, a combination of supervision with alcohol counselling and a restriction of liberty would work.

“A restriction of liberty would be appropriate as an alternative should you have no confidence in him completing a work order.

“He’s suitable for that and knows this would be his last chance.”

However, his suggestion fell on deaf ears, and Sheriff Pieri told McKenzie:“You were well warned that this was an alternative to custody.

“I can only revoke the order and instead impose a three-month sentence in prison.

“You have demonstrated you’re incapable of complying with any order.”