Yob pounced in footpath

A snarling yob who threatened to stab an early morning worker has been blasted by a sheriff.

Thug John McLachlan, 42, leapt out and said: “Do you want stabbed?” to the terrified man on a footpath at Renfrew Road.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the victim was heading for Gilmour Street Station to catch his train to work last May when the incident happened.

Fiscal depute Masooma Jaffri said: “It was 8.30am and the witness had left his home address and was making his way to Paisley Gilmour Street to get his train.

“He noticed the accused walking towards him. The accused approached the witness and said, ‘Do you want stabbed?’

“The witness felt alarmed and distressed and told the accused, ‘I am walking away from you now.’

“The complainer walked away, but the accused approached him again.”

The court heard the witness contacted police, who traced and arrested McLachlan. He told officers: “You had better get me a lawyer.”

Defence agent Jonathan Manson said his client, who has a string of previous convictions and has served a prison stretch, has been blighted by a long-term addiction to alcohol.

He said: “Obviously, alcohol had led to the commission of this offence.

“This is unacceptable behaviour. It is not normal behaviour, even under the influence of drink and this offence was committed at 8.30 in the morning.

“I would urged the court to consider a sentence as an alternative to custody, but, as he might have difficulty completing unpaid work, perhaps the court would consider a restriction of liberty order.”

However, Sheriff Tom McCartney condemned the accused for his conduct.

He said: “These are serious matters to make this threat in the street. It seems to me that there are very limited sentencing options open to me when I consider the terms of the report.

“A substantial period of imprisonment would be the natural sentence for this offence.

“However, I am prepared to defer sentence for three months for you to be of good behaviour.

“Any further offending and I will be clear that a substantial prison sentence is the most likely outcome.”

McLachlan was ordered to appear at court in July for reports from the authorities.