Banned from driving and jailed

A motorist who drove on a motorway without insurance – and later refused to provide breath samples at Coatbridge police office – has been banned from the road for nearly two years and will spend the next four weeks behind bars.

Martin Clouston, 23, got behind the wheel between the A8725 north-bound near Shawhead and the Chapelhall flyover near the on-slip of the A8 eastbound carriageway.

When police later took him into custody, they asked Clouston to provide two “specimens of breath samples” to “ascertain his ability to drive” which he refused.

The Blackridge resident owned up to both offences and background reports were compiled.

He made his way into the dock at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week from custody, relating to another matter.

Sheriff Derek O’Carroll told Clouston: “You will be disqualified [ from driving] for 20 months on charge four [failing to provide breath specimens].”

The driving ban was reduced from 24 months due to Clouston’s guilty plea.

Sheriff O’Carroll also fined Clouston £ 360 – reduced from £ 400 because he owned up to the offences – on each charge but, as Clouston was in custody for another matter, the sheriff imposed the alternative “no time to pay” punishment of 28 days in prison.

Verbally abused police officers

A Salsburgh man who verbally abused police officers has been tagged. David Ferguson will also be under supervision after targeting the constables on Airdrie’s Gartleahill on September 19.

The 29-year-old acted aggressively before shouting, swearing and “uttering abusive remarks” to the officers.

Ferguson, who stays in his home village’s Main Street, was taken into custody and entered a guilty plea at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

The social work department then carried out reports looking into his background and he returned for sentencing last week.

Sheriff Derek O’Carroll imposed a community payback order “as a direct alternative to custody” which will see Ferguson supervised for the next year.

Ferguson will also be tagged for the next three months as part of a restriction of liberty order confining him to his home between 7pm and 7am.

Sheriff O’Carroll revealed this was reduced from four months because Ferguson admitted the offence.

Prolific thief struck at three locations

A prolific Craigneuk thief who stole from three different Airdrie locations on the same day will face no further court review – despite admitting to breaching a court order.

Gillian White swiped Yankee Candle “melt pots” from The Card Depot on Bank Street and cosmetics from Boots Chemist and “cleaning items and foodstuff” from Market Square, both on Graham Street, on August 13 last year.

The serial shoplifter was sentenced to a community payback order on all three thefts at Airdrie Sheriff Court on March 8.

But the 33-year-old Elm Quadrant resident resurfaced at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week after admitting to a breach of her order.

However, when hearing from defence lawyer Marco Buonaccorsi that White had began to engage with her order, Sheriff Derek O’Carroll informed White he would “allow the order to continue until its conclusion” and she would face no further hearings.

Two bail breaches on same day

Two breaches of court bail conditions – on the same day – resulted in an unpaid work punishment for a brazen Coatbridge man.

Zak Oakes defied orders banning him from entering his home town’s Cumbrae Crescent for any reason “other than driving through the street or making deliveries for work” by being caught on the street on September 21.

He also contacted his partner on the street – which he was banned from doing – and found himself back at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week for sentencing.

Oakes, 27, from Dunbeth Court, was placed under a community payback order by Sheriff Derek O’Carroll which will see him carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, which was downgraded from 150 hours because he owned up to the breaches.

This order was “a direct alternative to a custodial sentence”.

The sheriff imposed the alternative “no time to pay” punishment of 28 days in prison