Dad who pleaded to be locked up is put on a curfew

Lout wanted time behind bars to sort his drink problem

A tanked- up dad who battered a shop worker with a sign and then climbed up a set of traffic lights has been placed on curfew and tagged.

Thomas Mowles, 28, assaulted Barrhead Asda worker Robert Aitkenhead by hitting him over the head with a sign at the Church Road store on January 21.

Mowles also admitted throwing a hammer at a set of traffic lights, then climbing up the lights at Dovecothill Street, also Barrhead, during a drunken rammy that happened on February 4.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Mowles had asked the sheriff to lock him up because his drinking was out of control. He pleaded guilty on March 1 to the charges of public disorder, possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting Mr Aitkenhead.

He appeared for sentencing after the court had obtained background reports into his bizarre behaviour.

Defence agent Eamon McGeehan said: “He understands this was an immature, childish and downright stupid way to behave.

“He had been drinking far too much.

“He asked to be sent to custody when he last appeared.

“But he is now in a much better place, so much so that his partner, the mother of their two children, is delighted that he was placed in prison for a short period of time. “This has got him off the drink.” Mr McGeehan said his client’s drinking had gotten worse during lockdown as he had found it difficult to cope.

He added: “He realises his behaviour was immature, inappropriate and irresponsible, and he clearly recognises he has an alcohol problem which he must address or things will turn a lot worse for him.”

He urged the court to hand Mowles a community- based sentence coupled with supervision.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said he was prepared to stop short of sending Mowles, of Barrhead, to prison.

He said: “I have given careful consideration to what has been said to me since the last occasion and, after weighing up several factors, I can see that a custodial sentence is not the only sentence that can be imposed.

“I will impose a combination order as a direct alternative to custody.

“You will be placed on an electronic tag for eight months and you are required to remain indoors between 7pm and 7am each day.

“You will also be placed under supervision for 12 months by the local authority and you will attend drugs or alcohol counselling as directed.

“This is not voluntary.”

He realises his behaviour was immature Eamon McGeechan