A Paisley thug with over 100 previous convictions has been jailed for eight months.
John Thomas, 38, appeared from custody at Paisley Sheriff Court where he admitted he ran at Renfrewshire Council staff shouting threats while he clung on to a bottle of vodka.
The brute who was heavily under the influence of drink and drugs was hanging around the council’s waste centre in Linwood where he ended up being tasered by cops.
Procurator fiscal depute Ian Mathieson, told the court: “Around 3pm on March 15 this year, the witness Dempsey who is a senior community safety officer and a civilian saw the accused walking towards them.
“Dempsey knew Thomas from previous matters and contacted her supervisor immediately.
“Around 5.40pm both witnesses observed the accused to be hiding behind a skip in the refuse yard.
“He was asked to leave and he shouted, ‘I’m only here for the gas canisters.’
“The accused was then observed near to an entry gate at the opposite side of the yard.
“Both witnesses made their way to their cars out of fear Thomas would damage their vehicles.
“Thomas was then observed to put his right hand behind his back and in his left hand he was holding a bottle of vodka.
“Thomas began running at the witnesses who then ran away in the opposite direction through fear of they’re safety.
“The accused was shouting, ‘you’re getting it now.’
“He then stopped and walked away.
“Police were contacted who attended and traced the accused.
“Thomas was described as not being compliant and was heavily under the influence of drugs and had been drinking.
“The accused was stumbling at this time and presented himself to police in an aggressive manner,
“A police officer drew his taser and fired it at the accused. Thomas fell to the ground. He didn’t suffer any injuries.
“He was handcuffed and taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was cautioned and charged.”
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Defence agent Paul Lynch told the court that Thomas had been drinking his “carry-out” in a portacabin within the refuse site, he explained: “There is a disused portacabin within the complex. It’s been lying derelict for some time and Mr Thomas seems to frequent that with his carry out.
“There has been a significant drop in his offending, at the time of this incident he had consumed street Valium and that combined with alcohol led him to behave in this manner.
“The hospital assessed him as considerably under the influence.
On sentencing, Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill said: “There seems to be a background here between you and one of the complainers.
“You attend under the influence of drink and drugs and you threaten these individuals with violence.
“If you had just left when asked, I doubt you would be standing here in front of me today.
“You have over 100 convictions including one in June that involved a possession of a knife, also on your record is robbery and an incident where you brandished a bottle.”
Sheriff Gill sentenced Thomas to eight months in custody.
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