Jail dodge for machete lout

A violent thug caught swinging a machete outside his home has been spared prison by a sheriff.

Christopher Gribbin, 26, who was previously caged for an axe robbery in Paisley, was caught wielding the chopper in the town’s George Street.

Gribbin was arrested after striking the weapon against a lamppost while high on drink or drugs on July 22, 2019.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard he had pleaded guilty to possessing the illegal weapon.

Sheriff James Spy had deferred sentence to call for background reports in preparation for sentencing him.

A defence agent urged the court to spare him a jail sentence, despite his record of previous convictions.

He said:“I am seeking to persuade the court there should be a non-custodial disposal.

“Mr Gribbin is currently working with the Turnaround project and is hoping to return to his address in Paisley later this month.

“The support from the project and other agencies has been encouraging and he has undertaken steps to clean up his act.”

He added:“Given the nature of the offence, a sentence of imprisonment could well be handed down.”

However, he said:“If such a sentence were handed down, it may well damage the efforts he has been making himself.”

Previously, Gribbin, who robbed a Paisley shop, was recognised by his own mum in CCTV pictures.

She turned him in to cops after the shocking images were published by the Paisley Daily Express, as well as circulated online.

He was caged after raiding the Family Shopper convenience store, in Causeyside Street, in October, 2016, while armed with an axe.

Gribbin received 22 months and was handed a supervised release order lasting 11 months.

This week, Sheriff Spy said he was prepared to pull back from sending Gribbins to jail as no one else was involved in his latest offence, adding:“He was wielding the machete against a lamppost and was intoxicated at the time.”

He told him he could easily send him to prison, but he wanted to allow him“to take advantage of what is being offered by Turnaround”.

He placed him under 15 months of mandatory supervision and ordered him to perform 180 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.

He warned him:“Breach this order and you will be facing a custodial sentence.

“It is up to you to show the court that you can make something of this.”