Lout ignored order to stay away from ex

A nuisance drug addict has been spared jail after turning over a new leaf.

Barry Staniforth, 27, who is tackling a horror addiction to street Valium and heroin, was handed 300 hours of unpaid work — the maximum amount the court can impose.

The yob admitted repeatedly pestering his long- suffering ex- girlfriend by turning up at her address uninvited.

Staniforth appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court after he admitted his latest breach of bail conditions at the Renfrew home of Gillian Reid, against whom he has several previous domestic convictions.

The yob, who was held on remand for the breach, which took place on August 24 last year, appeared for sentencing before Sheriff Colin Pettigrew, who had called for reports before deciding his fate.

Defence agent Tony Callahan urged the court to show his client mercy, as he has found work as a landscape gardener and had stayed out of trouble since his last offence.

The lawyer had also requested a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) assessment to be carried out to help tackle Staniforth’s drug abuse.

He said: “His good behaviour report is clear and he has managed to secure employment on a part-time basis, which he is hoping will turn into a full-time job.

“This is work he hopes will be extended into the winter period. It is with a landscape firm.

“He is tackling his drug abuse and now only takes one Valium a day. It used to be 20 or 30. He has not been using any heroin.

“I would ask the court deal with the matter by way of a Community Payback Order with a punitive element of unpaid work.”

Sheriff Pettigrew knocked back his appeal for placing Staniforth, formerly of Seedhill Road in the town, on an expensive DTTO, which costs the taxpayer more than £10,000 a year.

He also slated Staniforth for his “horrendous record”.

He said: “I acknowledge you are not suitable for a DTTO. I acknowledge you have got a job and you have been of good behaviour.

“You have a horrendous record of offending. This was your fifth breach of special conditions of bail.

“I am prepared to deal with this by imposing a Community Payback Order as an alternative to custody.”

He handed Staniforth an order comprising 18 months of mandatory supervision by the local authority and ordered him to perform a total of 300 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.