Behave or face jail, sheriff tells him
A dope- smoking lout who smashed up his ex-girlfriend’s car with a metal pole has been given a stern warning by a sheriff.
Raging Richard Cooley, 28, was handed a court order instead of jail after he wrecked former partner Tricia Erroch’s Hyundai 1.6 Coupe in an a fit of anger.
Cooley caused so much damage to the vehicle worth £3,400, that insurers were forced to write the motor off, rather than repair it.
The victim got out of her car moments before he smashed it up with the pole and fled indoors at her home at Erskine.
Cooley, of Campbell Street, Renfrew, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court for a review of his punishment imposed as an alternative to custody yesterday.
Defence agent Paul Coyle told the court former car valet Cooley had since lost his job and was struggling to keep up with compensation payments to his victim Ms Erroch.
The court heard had also got in trouble by failing to keep appointments with the social work department as well as clocking up another offence resulting in a fine.
Mr Coyle said: “He was handed a fine payable at £ 25 per fortnight. There is the outstanding compensation order which he thinks is payable at £10 a week.
“He is on Universal Credit at £47 a week having lost his job from when the order was imposed.
“The order runs until October and there is a suggestion the court revoke the order and fix a further review.”
Sheriff Craig Harris took a dim view of Cooley’s behaviour since he imposed the original punishment after the yob pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner like to cause fear and alarm, acting aggressively, uttering threats, and repeatedly striking her motor vehicle on February 1, 2016.
He was handed a Community Payback Order lasting 18 months, 90 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay Ms Erroch £1,050 in compensation.
Sheriff Harris tore a strip off Cooley, telling him: “The hours have been done but he failed to attend the appointment on May 24, turning up on May 31 and failing to explain why, where he became argumentative and certain comments were made that he was asked to leave.
“He has turned up smelling of cannabis on numerous occasions. Now there is the fine for further offending, and the compensation order he should have been paying is £360 behind in payments.
“There has been a catalogue of nonengagement and he needs to be aware this was imposed as an alternative to prison.”
He warned Cooley there had been better be a “much improved attitude” when he next appears at court in August or he will face going to jail.