‘Behave or go to prison’ warning

A man who locked a couple out of their house after creeping inside has been warned to behave or face jail.

James Learmont, 42, sneaked into the home, before bolting the chain leaving Guisepp Santamaria and Angela D’Ermo stranded outside.

He admitted terrifying the pair after acting in a threatening or abusive manner at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Tom McCartney slammed Learmont for dodging an earlier sentencing date after he pled guilty.

He said: “This was a very serious offence in someone’s house.

“It is understandable that it would cause a great deal of alarm to the householders.

“You have no previous convictions, so this has been difficult for me to know what to do with.

“It does concern me that you failed to attend court when required to do so.

“You were given a chance to appear and still didn’t.

“The warrant granted was not the first.”

Learmont let himself into the property in Church Street, Johnstone, on May 4 last year.

Sheriff McCartney deferred sentence for four months and ordered him to be of good behaviour.

Learmont, of Mossvale Street, Paisley, must return to court on November 11 for a progress update.