Vandal caught with spray paint and hash is given second chance

A teen caught red-handed with cannabis and spray painting a building has been given a chance to stay out of trouble.

Mark Miller, 18, was nabbed by police with a can of spray paint in his hand while hanging out and drinking with his pals on Whitesbridge Avenue, Paisley, on February 14 last year.

Police had been called to the block of flats in Ferguslie following reports of a gang of youths drinking and causing trouble in the area.

When they arrived, they spotted Miller - who was just 16 at the time - with a can of spray paint.

Miller appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court where it was heard he sprayed a smiley face on a wall shortly before police arrived and caught him.

When they stopped to speak with him, they noticed he smelled of cannabis.

Procurator fiscal Dana Barclay told the court: “Police witnessed the accused to be in possession of a spray paint, spraying on the rear wall of the building.

“While speaking with him, officers detected a smell of cannabis coming from his person at the time.

“He was detained for the purposes of a search and officers discovered one gram on cannabis on his person.

“He was cautioned and charged at the time.”

While in the dock on Wednesday Miller admitted wilfully and recklessly destroying property with spray paint at a property on Whitesbridge Avenue on February 14 last year.

He also admitted having Class-B drug cannabis.

His lawyer, James Arroll told the court Miller had been hanging around with a crowd during that time which had led to him getting into bother.

However, the solicitor said, since then, the teen, of Bankfoot Road, Paisley, had changed his ways and had managed to keep out of trouble.

He said: “He accepts what occurred here.

“Once this case started, he removed himself from the group and I am not aware of any other matters for Mr Miller since this offence.”

Sheriff Tom McCartney told the youth he had a chance to prove he had changed his ways, adding: “An important factor in how I deal with this matter will be determined by what I am told when you come back to this court.

“When you come back here, this matter will be two years old and I will take that into account.”

Sheriff McCartney deferred the case until February 14 for Miller to be of good behaviour.