Thug on release caught with screwdriver in pants

Burger King job losses warning

A THUG out on early release from prison who was snared with a screwdriver down his trousers was jailed yesterday for 20 months.

William Crawford, 34, was caught by police lunging forward to head butt a man in Glasgow’s Govan area in May this.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard officers had initially spotted him arguing with the man and brandishing the weapon.

Crawford put the screwdriver into the waistband of his trousers before he was arrested by the officers.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “Crawford told officers: ‘get your hands off me, I can’t go to jail I’m on licence’. A screwdriver was then recovered from the waistband of his trousers.”

Crawford pleaded guilty yesterday during the trial to being in possession of the screwdriver in a public place.

Lawyer Stephen Bentley, defending, told the court Crawford “firmly regretted” his actions.

Sheriff Joan Kerr imposed 13 months for the screwdriver offence and also told the dad-oftwo to complete the unserved seven months of his previous sentence.

BURGER King UK’s boss has warned that up to 1,600 jobs could be lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Only about 370 of the restaurant chain’s 530 UK stores have reopened since the nation went into lockdown.

Chief executive Alasdair Murdoch said that the economic damage stemming from the crisis could ultimately force the company to permanently close up to 10% of its stores.

He said: “It’s not just us – I think this applies to everyone out there in our industry.”