I prefer jail to Motherwell

A man has been sentenced to 80 days behind bars after begging to be jailed in a bizarre episode at Coatbridge police office.

James Stevenson, 27, entered the premises on August 3 and shouted at police officers to “f****** jail me”.

The Motherwell man threatened to kill himself as officers attempted to drive him to Monklands Hospital after becoming concerned with his behaviour.

He had been put on bail only the day before.

The procurator fiscal explained: “The accused was trying to find some accomodation.

“He entered Coatbridge police office and told officers he was a resident of Airth Court in Motherwell.

“He went on to say he’d rather be in custody than stay there and said ‘ just jail me, I’m not going back there’.

“Officers decided to take him to Monklands Hospital but en route the accused threatened to kill himself and said he would ‘put my head through this window’.

“The vehicle was stopped and they attempted to calm him down but they were unable to and decided to take him back to Coatbridge police office.”

Stevenson’s solicitor said: “My client is lonely with no help from family or friends.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri said: “Due to the bail aggravation, I am sentencing you to 80 days in prison.”

Serial thief

A serial thief will return to court next month after missing reports prevented his sentencing.

Andrew Brennan, 29, has pleaded guilty to five counts of theft which took place on June 17 and 18.

He targeted several stores including the BP garage on Airdrie’s Carlisle Road.

Brennan, of Monkland Street, stole food from Airdrie’s Iceland store and Scotmid on Forrest Street before taking alcohol from the BP garage on June 17.

The following day he nicked food from the same garage before returning to Scotmid to commit the same crime.

He will return to court to face the consequences on October 4 once a drug testing and treatment order has been compiled.

Sold drugs to pals

An Airdrie man has been given a community payback order after pleading guilty to supplying a Class B drug.

Dillon Finesy, 23, was caught with cannabis on June 18 after police received reports of a vehicle acting suspiciously.

He was found asleep inside the car on Ayr Drive a short while later.

The Ferguson Way resident immediately admitted his guilt when officers carried out their initial search after smelling a strong scent of cannabis from within the vehicle.

At Airdrie Sheriff Court last week the procurator fiscal explained: “Police received a report about a vehicle acting suspiciously in the area.

“They saw it parked on Ayr Drive at around 12.30am and witnessed the accused asleep in the car.

“They also identified a strong scent of cannabis. The acccused was detained for a search and he admitted to police that drugs were within the vehicle.

“In total 32.6g of cannabis with a street value of £300 was recovered.

“The accused told police, ‘I buy a big bit online and sell it to my mates’.

“He was detained and taken to Coatbridge police office, where he was interviewed and gave a full admission to buying in bulk to sell to friends.”

Finesy’s solicitor said: “This is normally an offence that attracts imprisonment and he knows it is a very serious matter.

“However, my client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and he also has a good record.

“He recognises his wrongdoings and his friends were just as much a part of this as he was.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri ruled: “This is indeed a serious offence but, given your early plea and lack of offending, I will give you a community payback order.

“You will carry out 105 hours of unpaid work, which I have reduced from 150.

“This will be completed within 12 months and if you breach that order you will be brought back here before me to be sentenced all over again.”

Prison warning

A young Airdrie man has escaped prison by the skin of his teeth after breaching a community payback order.

Rochsoles Drive resident Christopher Laird, 21, was given unpaid work in November for posting threatening and offensive messages through the mailbox of Adams medical practice at Airdrie Health Centre.

The details of the order were not disclosed in court but Laird did not complete the designated hours within the given timeframe.

His solicitor said: “My client has had difficulties and hasn’t completed the unpaid work. However, this order was originally given as an alternative to a fine.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri was convinced the breach did not warrant a custodial sentence and said: “I am going to give you one final opportunity.

“You will be put under a restriction of liberty for one month, during which you will remain at your home between the hours of 7pm to 7am every night.

“This is an alternative to custody. If you breach it you’ll go to prison.”

He went on to say he’d rather be in custody than stay there and said ‘just jail me, I’m not going back there’