Paisley Daily Express

Yob jailed for kicking off at his neighbours

Court hears alcoholic caused rammy in close

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A neighbour from hell who challenged fellow residents to fight has been caged for 11 months.

Alcoholic Barry Matthews, 36, sparked mayhem at a close in McKerrell Street, Paisley, when he turned up at a man’s door and yelled he was going to “kick his a***.”

The lout, who has numerous conviction­s for shopliftin­g and public disorder, was arrested by police after making threats to his victim, after the pair of them had fallen out over a girl, on July 8.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the yob, who appeared from custody, was later locked up for shouting and bawling threats at the same close during another rammy on September 28.

Matthews, also of McKerrell Street, admitted charges of behaving in a threatenin­g and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm in that he shouted, swore and challenged neighbours to fight.

He also admitted breach of bail orders over his previous offences.

Defence agent Eamon McGeehan urged the court to spare Matthews a further spell in custody as he had already spent two months on remand when he appeared in the dock.

He said: “He has significan­t health problems associated with his alcoholism and he has already spent a significan­t period of time in custody over this matter.

“I would say that is punishment enough and has given him to reflect on his behaviour while he has abstained from drink.

“He has a significan­t record of shopliftin­g offences, involving substantia­l amounts of money, and I would understand your Lordship’s concern in considerin­g custody.

“But I would ask the court considers deferring sentence to allow him to address his problemati­c relationsh­ip with alcohol and take into account the amount of time he has spent on remand.”

Previously, Matthews was locked up for confrontin­g police with a machete after officers were called out to a disturbanc­e at the same close in McKerrell Street.

Sheriff David Pender took a dim view of Matthews’ record of offending and said custody was his only option in dealing with the yob.

He said: “The troubling thing is you have been given orders before and you have struggled with them.

“So, I have no confidence you will be able to comply with them.

“It means I have no other option than to deal with this by imposing a custodial sentence.”

He handed Matthews a sentence of 11 months in jail, after discountin­g his plea of guilty and the time he had already spent on remand.

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