You can’t buy your way out of trouble, he tells MC Shogun
Bad boy rapper MC Shogun was slated by a sheriff yesterday for trying to “buy his way” out of trouble.
Paisley artist Joseph Herron, 20, appeared at court yesterday after he was arrested at the 02 Academy in Glasgow on Tuesday as he prepared for support US hip hop star Nas.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Herron was lifted by the cops as he arrived at the venue to perform a soundcheck.
The rapper was remanded in custody and warned he faces jail for repeatedly breaking a court order by not doing hours of unpaid work.
The accused, of Whiteford Road in the town’s Blackhall area, stood in the dock where he admitted repeated breaches of the community payback order, handed to him for housebreaking and resisting arrest, as well as concealing a pair of garden shears, during a break-in on Boxing Day, 2014, in Paisley.
Defence agent Michael McKeown said: “I am aware that Mr Herron has been given numerous opportunities to complete the community payback order. Taking a rational view, he has demonstrated he would be incapable of completing the hours that were imposed on him.
“Clearly, given the procedure, and the opportunities that he has had, it will be uppermost in your lordship’s mind to send him to custody.
“All I can say is I would be hoping to dissuade your lordship from that particular course of action. The offences committed by him were when he was 17.
“He advises me categorically that he has not committed any offences since.”
The lawyer added that Herron, who had established himself as a rising star in the music industry, was detained on an arrest warrant due to his failure to appear at court.
He said: “He was arrested from the O2 Academy in Glasgow at the time he was carrying out a soundcheck.
“He was due to appear, when he was placed under arrest, later that evening. And due to that arrest he lost the opportunity, which would have been a significant event in his professional life.”
Mr McKeown added Herron was due to undertake various gigs and concerts in London.
He told how the artist featured in a recent documentary on BBC3, and he was due to undertake a tour sponsored by Channel 4.
He said: “As a consequence of this, his financial position has changed and his position is he could pay a substantial financial payment in respect of this matter and would be willing to offer £2,000.
“The alternative would be his spending 45 days in custody.”
Mr McKeown said Herron was “fearful” he would be banged up in jail and appealed to the court to grant his freedom.
Herron carried out the housebreaking offence on December 26, 2014, when be broke into the property at Strathmore Avenue in Paisley and stole a laptop, a DIY tool, a quantity of cards and gift vouchers, and other personal possessions.
He also resisted, obstructed and hindered his arrest by struggling with officers and failed to declare he was armed with a pair of garden shears, which resulted in the injury to one police officer.
He was handed the court punishment on November 19, 2015, when he was given 12 months supervision, 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 compensation.
However, Sheriff James Spy slated the accused for repeatedly flouting the order by not turning up for his work placements and for dodging court appearances.
He said: “You cannot buy your way out of this by offering substantial amounts of money.”
He told Herron he would be held in custody for the preparation of backgrounds reports ahead of sentencing.
He said: “This case will be continued for three weeks and you will be remanded in custody.”
Herron will learn his punishment when appears for sentencing on August 8.