Struggling addict faces jail if he fails to pay fine

He lost the plot with two women

A heroin addict with a chaotic lifestyle has been warned he faces jail after failing to carry out court-ordered work in the community.

Patrick McHardy, 25, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court for a review of his Community Payback Order.

And it emerged there was “very little positive” to be gleaned from the update.

The court was told that McHardy has been battling a chaotic lifestyle and fighting heroin abuse and, as a result, found it very difficult to complete the order previously put in place.

Defence agent Amy Spencer said, however, that her client was now living in supported accommodation through the Blue Triangle organisation in Renfrew, and that his family was providing all the help and encouragement they could to try and help him get his life back on track.

McHardy, formerly of Paisley Road, Renfrew, had previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm to others by shouting, swearing and making offensive remarks to exgirlfriend Nicole Wylie and Mhairi McCartan.

This happened in New Sneddon Street, Paisley, between March 1 and 30, 2012.

Ms Spencer explained that McHardy had been given other chances to cooperate with the court, but had been forced to admit that it was proving tough for him to comply.

After studying background information, and hearing that McHardy had stayed out of trouble and had not re- offended, Sheriff Linda Smith told him she felt it best to revoke the original order.

Instead, she fined him a token sum to be paid from his benefits.

Fining him £70 to be paid at £10 per fortnight, she warned sternly: “If you do not pay, you will serve the alternative in prison and that will undo all the good work that is taking place to help you.”