A troubled teen who repeatedly spat in the face of a care worker has been warned to ‘grow up’ or face jail.
Katie Barrass, 19, lost the plot with a childcare worker supervising her playing football at a home run by youth and education charity Kibble in Paisley.
Barrass had been warned after she repeatedly kicked the ball against a window at the centre, in the town’s Goudie Street, when she flipped out at welfare staff on February 26.
Procurator fiscal depute Iain Mathieson told Paisley Sheriff Court : “The accused was in the back garden at the property in Paisley playing football.
“At this time, she was being supervised by the witness.
“Barrass began striking the football off the windows. However, it caused no damage.
“The witness asked the accused to refrain from doing so, but she refused.
“Thereafter, she kicked the ball over the fence and left the garden to collect the ball.
“The witness informed her the football activity was over and asked her to go back to the house.”
The court heard Barrass told the worker to “f*** off,” and became “aggressive”.
She was asked to “calm down”, but continued to “behave aggressively” and “refused to desist” when asked
again.
The fiscal added: “The witness asked a colleague to assist in placing the accused in a ‘safe hold’, with each placing a hand on her wrist and the other on her shoulder.
“They were walking her back to the house when she began struggling and continued her aggressive behaviour.
“Both witnesses placed her on the ground when she spat in the witness’ face.
“She repeated this three times.”
Barrass pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the care worker by repeatedly spitting on him.
Defence agent Tony Callahan urged the court to show leniency to his client.
He said: “Your Lordship will have had receipt of a very detailed report and will be aware of her troubled background.
“She continues to receive support and I would recommend deferring sentence for a period of time.”
Sheriff Eoin McGinty told her: “It is clear you have had a troubled background, but this behaviour is inexcusable.
“To spit in someone’s face is disgusting.
“This is something you may think you can get away with at a children’s home.
“But you are not a child any more.
“You are on the verge of adulthood and cannot behave like this.
“If you continue to behave like this, you will go to an adult prison.”
Barrass will appear back at court on September 23 for a review of her conduct.
