Boozed up yob lost the plot and threw cat at man

A twisted Paisley yob who chucked a cat at another man during a drunken rammy has been shown mercy by a sheriff.

Tanked- up Roberto McElwee, 28, lost the plot at a house at Brediland Road on June 9 when he repeatedly challenged Lee Townsley to fight, waved a knife through the letterbox, picked up and threw the cat. He also admitted to making threats and behaving in an abusive and threatening manner.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard McElwee of Byres Avenue, in the town’s Gallowhill district, had pleaded guilty to the charges last month when he appeared for sentencing yesterday.

McElwee was also recently handed a Community Payback Order comprising 140 hours unpaid work and supervision as well as being banned from the road for drink driving after causing mayhem at his sister’s house in Erskine last April.

Defence agent Jonathan Manson urged the court to give his client another chance to keep out of trouble, given that he was “starting to do the hours” with this court order.

He said: “He has had problems with alcohol but is taking it under control and he is committing himself to doing the hours.

“I would ask that sentence on this is deferred until he shows how he can cope with the current order.

“He knows he is otherwise facing a custodial sentence and understands the consequences of failure.”

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “I will defer sentence for three months for you to be good behaviour. However, I will make it clear if you fool around you will likely be given a custodial sentence.”