Payment warning

A yob with a record for antisocial behaviour has been warned he will be jailed if he misses just one payment on a fine over his latest outburst.

Owen Stewart has a history of public disorder convictions and when he landed back in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court, it was revealed he got caught up in a dispute with his neighbour involving his mother and tried to provoke another man into a fight.

Stewart, of Craigview Avenue, Johnstone, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm to others by shouting, swearing and issuing challenges to fight during an episode in Canal Street, Johnstone, on August 11 last year.

Defence agent Charlie McCusker said his client had kept out of any further trouble since the date in question.

After studying background report s, Sheri f f Tom McCartney said he had been surprised to learn that Stewart had admitted that he spent sums on a weekly basis to support a drug habit, despite his restricted income.

Fining him £ 225 to be paid at £ 10 per fortnight, he warned: “As you have numero u s p re v i o u s convictions, including several of an analogous nature, if you miss a single instalment, you will go straight to prison.

“If you stop spending money on drugs, you can easily pay this.”