Offenders have to do the work or do the time

A number of offenders who came before the sheriff during last Thursday’s remand court had not done the hours of work in the community – which is normally a direct alternative to a custodial sentence – they had been told to do.

Brian Jackson (32), 18 Gerald Terrace, Stenhousemuir, received his community payback order for an assault he committed in Lochlands Drive, Arbroath on October 29, 2014.

He was required to do a minimum of 42 hours of work, but had failed to turn up to a number of appointments.

Sheriff Caldwell added another 17-and-a-half hours to his total, meaning Jackson now had 63-and-a-half hours to complete. He was given until his next appearance on September 15 to complete a minimum of 42 hours.

“If you don’t do these hours we will keep increasing them until you do,” said Sheriff Caldwell.

Brian Dornion (23), 59 Longdales Avenue, New Carron, was another offender who missed a few appointments, which meant he only completed 32 of the 41 hours he was supposed to.

The court heard that Dornion, who assaulted a police officer in Melville Street, Falkirk on September 13 last year, had moved house during the period and it was the first time he had ever had his own place so he was working on it instead of doing his community service.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell said he expected the order to be completed by September 15 and would accept no excuses.

Jamie Kelly (31), 16 Broad Street, Denny, received his community payback order for behaving in a threatening manner at the DSS, in Wellside Place, Falkirk on October 29, 2014 and assaulting a police officer in Falkirk Police Station on July 3, 2015.

He also admitted failing to appear for his social work appointments between September 3 and October 21 last year.

The court heard Kelly had been given 140 hours unpaid work and had done around 30 of them.

He was given a further four weeks to engage with the order.