Drinker is given one final chance

A persistent offender, whose “horrendous” drinking has landed him trouble, is being given one final chance to behave, or he’ll be locked up.

Jason Wylie has a history of breaching bail conditions, but was given a chance to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community as a direct alternative to custody.

He was unable to meet the challenge due to his drinking problem.

When Wylie made his latest appearance at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday, he admitted being in breach of the Community Payback Order by failing to cooperate and complete the hours of work required.

Defence agent Gordon Ritchie said his client had been able to attend and complete almost half of the hours required.

Mr Ritchie said Wylie, of Moss Drive, Erskine, was now willing to buckle down and finish the task.

Sheriff David Pender said it was disappointing to read that alcohol continued to be such a negative influence in the accused’s life.

Wylie’s drinking, he said, “was at a horrendous level.”

After hearing submissions from his lawyer, however, the sheriff said he was prepared to continue proceedings for a month, to give Wylie a further chance to comply with the order and bring his drinking under control.

Deferring sentence until July 14, he warned sternly: “If I get a poor report again, my hands are tied and you will be going to jail.”

Wylie had the community payback order put in place originally after failing to comply with a bail order condition put in place in March last year. The bail order prohibited him from contacting or attempting to contact Nicola Wilson, but he breached that condition in July.