Drug addict told to sort his life out

Sheriff’s warning to knife yob after detox plea

A blade yob who “drifts through life taking heroin” has begged for a chance to get clean instead of being jailed.

Gary Coyle, 52, pleaded to be put on a detox programme after he was caught with a Stanley blade stashed in a packet of rolling papers.

He was hauled off a bus and searched after being caught shoplifting from a town centre department store and insisted it was used to cut carpet.

Defence lawyer Bob Kerr insisted his client’s behaviour was linked to his hunger for the class A substance.

He said: “He’s a man who ticks all the boxes for a drug treatment order.

“He got into heroin later in life than most because it was simply not available in Paisley at the time.

“He’s been a client of mine since he was 16 and for many years he’s been beset by it. He hasn’t committed offences which would lead to substantial prison sentences – he gets out after a short spell and immediately re-offends.

“He’s a man who doesn’t care, somebody who is listless and, at best, detached.

“He drifts his way through life taking heroin and committing crimes to fund this.

“I regularly expect to see him crop up at the custody court at any moment.

“He is getting on in years and shouldn’t be coming back to court at his age. “He is ready to make a change.” Coyle was caught with the six-centimetre blade after legging it from Paisley’s Cooperative department store with two stolen jackets on July 25.

He pled guilty to the offence and to stealing mounts for motor sat nav systems from the nearby Halfords on January 22 last month.

The court heard Coyle had been released from prison in March for a separate offence, but offended “straight away”.

Sheriff Craig Harris told Coyle he would consider putting him on a detox programme, but warned he must behave for a fortnight while he is assessed.

He added: “It is not an easy option, but I have been told you have reached a point in your life when you are motivated to change.

“It is a long journey, but this is a very important step and you must stay out of trouble for two weeks.

“You have made a promise to me. You need to show me why I should trust you. “It is now in your hands.” Coyle, of McKerrell Street, has been ordered to return to court on September 28.