Murder bid survivor in court after nicking bike

Man, 41, ordered to pay £2k compensation to cycle owner

A Renfrew man who has allegedly been subject to two attempted murder bids was ordered to pay almost £2,000 in compensation after stealing a bike.

William Pinkerton stole the bike and resold it on July 6, 2021, from his flat in Renfrew’s Paisley Road.

The thief was subject to two separate bail orders at the time.

The pinched bike was valued at almost £2,000 but Pinkerton moved it on quickly to fund his drug habit – coming up short and only making a two-figure sum.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the value of the bike was £1,950.

The 41-year-old’s defence lawyer explained that Pinkerton wasn’t in attendance at the town’s court on the previous calling of his case when he was due to be sentenced because he was locked in his flat.

She added: “He had locked himself in his own flat and had to wait for the council coming out to assist him.

“They didn’t attend until almost 2pm and his case had called.”

The solicitor stated Pinkerton has a “drug problem” and added: “His problem leads to him offending to fund the habit.

“In this case he made very little money in return for the bike, just a double-figure sum.

“His health has suffered as he was attacked in July 2021 which resulted in two men appearing at the High Court and one received a five-year jail sentence.

“He was then attacked again he tells me in February 2022 and this is being treated also as attempted murder with a person being charged for this.”

Sheriff Gillian Craig said: “I realise you didn’t obtain that much when you sold the bike on but that’s down to your negotiating skills, not mine.”

Sheriff Craig ordered Pinkerton to pay £1,950 in compensation to the owner of the bike at the rate of £100 per month.

In addition, he was made subject to supervision of the social work department for two years.

The Express previously reported that, on July 19, 2021, just seven weeks after Stephen Paterson had been released early from a two-year sentence for having a sword, he attacked Pinkerton with a blade “because he didn’t like him”.

The High Court in Stirling heard Pinkerton had just been dropped off at his home.

Paterson and another man saw him, followed him and went on to force entry into his flat.

When Pinkerton fell to the floor, Paterson struck him with the knife, slashing down on the right side of his neck with “considerable force” close to the carotid artery.

Paterson pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to attempted murder and was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.