Drug addict warned: Stay clean or face jail

Sheriff’s warning to shoplifter with shocking record

A heroin addict with a “shocking record” of dishonesty has been given one last chance to clean up his act.

Robert Allan, 50, a serial shoplifter who even stole from charity collection boxes, was told he is facing the stark choice of going to prison or proving he can stay clear of illegal drugs.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused, a persistent offender with four pages of previous convictions, had been given a methadone prescription to help ward him off Class A drugs and to stop him stealing to fund his destructive habit.

However the accused of Renfield Street, Renfrew, had failed to stop abusing heroin and had drifted back into his old ways.

Yesterday he appealed to the court to place him on a Drugs Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO), instead of sending him back to prison.

His defence agent Terry Gallanagh said: “The accused has a shocking record for shoplifting and the root cause is his heroin addiction.

“He recognises this to be addressed and during his time on remand he has had time to reflect on that.

“He knows he has to address this heroin addiction – he knows only too well the alternative.

“He asks the court to give him two weeks to prove his commitment to this while he is at liberty and if he does not commit he knows he is going to jail.”

Previously the accused had admitted the theft of two charity boxes containing cash from the Sherwood chip shop in the town’s Hairst Street, in January last year.

“He also had stolen a quantity of coffee from the Aldi store in Renfrew’s High Street.

He had recently breached bail and conditions and had failed to turn up at court.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew warned the accused of the grim consequences if he didn’t take this final chance.

He said: “I am not going to ask you today to commit to this because you are going to tell me your are, and I am not satisfied, because you have to prove it.

“But placing someone on a DTTO is not an easy option.

“If you continue abusing heroin you are going to jail.

“But you are being given a chance, so turn up for appointments, stick to this, to ensure you have the motivation.

“If you do not accept these terms, I will simply impose custody.”

Allan was ordered to appear for a sentence review next month, to make sure he is remaining free of drugs.