Man threatened job centre staff who stopped his benefits

Apr 28 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN with “anger-management issues” threatened to break the necks of job centre staff who told him his benefits were going to be stopped.

Lawrence Paris, 39, went to sign on as normal at Livingston Job Centre on February 28 but was told he was ineligible for benefits as he hadn’t been showing attempts to find employment.

Paris disagreed with this decision and asked to speak to another member of staff.

But when that member of staff reviewed the case and agreed with the decision, Paris became abusive.

“The witness was anxious about his behaviour and attempted to alert security staff,” said fiscal depute Wendy McDonald.

“The accused stated: ‘You can go and get security but I will break their necks’.

“He then attended at another witnesses desk and stated ‘The same goes for you, you f**king boot’.

“The accused then left the premises and the police were called.”

Paris, whose address was given as Moncreiff Way, Livingston, pled guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner at the job centre.

His solicitor, Daryll Lovie, told the court, his client appreciated it had been “disgraceful behaviour”.

Mr Lovie added: “He has indicated to the author of the social enquiry report that he thoroughly regrets his behaviour and presents as very remorseful.

“He appears to have a level of victim empathy and is fully aware of the impact that his behaviour would have had on those working in the job centre on February 28.

“There is obviously an issue in terms of anger management. Although he was getting increasingly frustrated at the system and had spoken to a number of members of staff and seemed to be getting nowhere in regards to his complaint, he should not have behaved in this particular manner.

“He had been there for an hour and a half and lost his temper.

“He didn’t shout but he did issue threats and swear. On reflection, Mr Paris appears to understand this is entirely unacceptable behaviour.”

Sentencing Paris, Sheriff Grahame Fleming said: “I am going to make a community payback order with offender supervision for six months. The reason for imposing this requirement is your anger management issues.

“You must also perform a number of unpaid hours of work as punishment for your reprehensible behaviour.”