Tubby teen who refused to carry out community service is jailed

Aug 19 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

AN overweight knife yob who refused to carry out community service has been jailed.

At a court appearance in October last year Liam Johnston avoided a prison sentence after his legal team presented a letter from his GP saying he was able to carry out unpaid work in the community – as long as it was not hard physical labour.

The 19-year-old was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service by Sheriff Douglas Kinloch.

But last week Johnston, formerly of Mowbray Rise, Livingston, was back in the dock at Livingston Sheriff Court after carrying out just three hours of work.

The teenager had been given the community service order for assaulting two police officers and a breach of the peace offence during a drink-fuelled rage in Livingston on June 1 last year.

Johnston, who had consumed two litres of spirits as well as taking shots of other drinks before the rampage, ran at a marked police car while brandishing a blade.

The two male officers were forced to drive away from Johnston – who began shouting and swearing – to dodge his attack.

Johnston then assaulted the officers by presenting the knife at them and threatening them with violence. The officers had to use two doses of CS gas spray to halt him.

However after completing just a tiny fraction of the unpaid work Johnston landed himself back in trouble.

He was remanded in custody on July 26 after failing to appear for an earlier hearing and breaching his community service order.

His solicitor, Peter Mullin, told the court his client was essentially refusing to carry out the work.

Sheriff Ian Anderson asked if Johnston’s spell in custody had not changed his appetite for a custodial sentence and if he would be willing to do the work rather than go to jail.

However after consulting Johnston, Mr Mullin said: “He continues to be unwilling to engage in his community service order.”

Jailing Johnston for eight weeks Sheriff Anderson said: “You are not helping yourself by your attitude. You are not taking the opportunities that are being given to you by the court but in the circumstances of this case I will impose a custodial sentence of eight weeks on you.”