Armadale drunk jailed

Feb 11 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

AN Armadale man’s drunken behaviour has landed him in jail.

Barry Morrison committed three breach of the peace offences between August and January, a local court was told this week.

And a sheriff lost patience with the 25-year-old, who was also appearing on a charge of failing to adhere to a court curfew, and jailed him for 120 days.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that on the afternoon of August 11 last year police were called to an address in Blackridge to deal with a disturbance.

Senior fiscal depute John Barclay told the court: “The police arrived and approached the accused who was very much under the influence of alcohol and started to shout and swear at the officers.”

Then on September 11 officers were called to Blackridge Main Street where they found Morrison acting in a disorderly manner.

He was arrested and on the way to Livingston Police Station he began to repeatedly shout and swear and threaten the officers.

An agent for the accused told the court that drink was at the root of Morrison’s problems

He added: “It is clear from what the fiscal said that Morrison was drunk on all these occasions.

“I think it is clear how big a part alcohol plays in his life. He is a chronic alcoholic although he is still a young man.

“He doesn’t seek to make excuses for his behaviour — he knows it has been appalling on several occasions.

“The accused has been warned by his family that he will have to do something about his behaviour. He is not proud of his behaviour.

“It is clear that when he drinks he cannot think properly at all and he tells me he drinks far too much. He has cut back on his alcohol intake recently.

“Although these are unpleasant incidents he doesn’t have an extensive record.”

However, Morrison was told by Sheriff Donald Muirhead: “You have a bad record of drunken behaviour and causing a nuisance of yourself and a bad record for not sticking to court orders.

“Even though you were caught twice last year you still seem to be carrying on with the same behaviour.

“I regret to say that after a long time of non-custodial sentences I think the time has come for you to spend a short time in custody.

“You will have the opportunity to dry out in prison and that may assist you in the future.”