Benefits halted and fine imposed

An out-of-work man has had his benefits stopped and will have to stump up £200 compensation after smashing a door panel at the Jobcentre.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard this week that Thomas Pentland, 49, felt he was being treated unfairly when he went to the office in Johnstone’s Floors Street.

The court heard how he became increasingly agitated and then irate because he thought a security officer was eavesdropping on his conversation.

He told a Jobcentre staff member: “I could kill people like him for listening in to my conversation and kidding on he isn’t.”

Pentland then stood up and slammed a chair on the table.

He told staff he was fed up and, as he was leaving the office, kicked the glass panel of a door and smashed it.

Police were called and they viewed CCTV that captured the entire incident.

In court, Pentland, of Lomond Gardens, Elderslie, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm to others last December.

His defence agent Charlie McCusker said this was “a sad case” as his client was frustrated by what he felt was unfair treatment and had also been drinking too much.

Mr McCusker said medication Pentland was taking for depression and anxiety had not helped his condition.

He explained that, since the incident, Pentland’s GP had changed his medication and this had brought about a definite improvement.

The court was told Pentland suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder following a serious assault, which had a devastating impact on his life.

“He very much regrets his behaviour and is appalled at what he did,” said Mr McCusker.

Since having his benefits stopped, Pentland has been surviving with the help of his family and support from his local foodbank. He is waiting for his benefits case to be reviewed at a tribunal.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said behaviour like this at a Jobcentre is unacceptable as staff are only trying to help people.

“While you may have been frustrated, you cannot behave in this fashion,” he hit out.

He said he understood that the issue of medication being prescribed had also been a contributory factor.

The sheriff deferred sentence until June 26 to give Pentland a chance to get his benefits sorted in the hope that he would then be in a position to pay compensation towards repair of the broken door panel, which had been put at £200.