Man who couldn’t pay fine is spared prison

A Paisley man has been ordered to do unpaid work after a benefits bungle left him unable to pay a fine.

James McNab, formerly of Maxwellton Court, had been hit with a fine at Paisley Sheriff Court for breaking bail conditions by being outwith his home address during his curfew hours.

But he was left unable to pay it as he came off his methadone prescription in a bid to kick drugs – leading to his sick line being cancelled.

The details emerged yesterday when McNab, 37, appeared in the dock over the outstanding £160.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Manson explained: “In the autumn last year he was receiving Employment Support Allowance ( ESA) and was on a methadone prescription.

“He took himself off methadone as he didn’t think it was of much assistance to him.

“His sick line was stopped, so his ESA was stopped.

“He then applied for Jobseekers Allowance but for the last five months he’s been barred from obtaining any benefits.

“He is living in homeless accommodation at the unit in Brewster Avenue, Paisley.

“His partner is on benefits and she’s been supporting him.”

Sheriff Seith Ireland could have caged McNab for not paying the fine but opted to spare him prison, instead placing him on a Community Payback Order (CPO) requiring him to carry out 30 hours’ unpaid work.

As he did so, he said: “You could serve a prison sentence of up to three months [if you don’t comply with the CPO] so it’s better to do the work.”