“I look forward to hearing your excuses before I send you to jail.": Buckie man's unpaid work ultimatum
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A BUCKIE man who did only "seven hours in nearly a year" of court-ordered unpaid work has been given a last chance to avoid jail.
Norman Stewart (24) appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court last Thursday (August 24) in connection an existing unpaid work order.
Stewart previously admitted breaching the order, on March 23, when the case was deferred.
The court heard that, since the order was imposed, he had completed only 14 hours.
The Milton Drive, Buckie resident was handed the Community Payback Order for two criminal damage offences which involved a car.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said that Stewart's unpaid work performance had been unsatisfactory.
He said: "He is still not completing the orders.
“I will revoke bail and send him to jail – that is what he seems to want."
Iain Maltman, representing Stewart, said the lack of completed hours was “not quite a breach" and that his client was “getting credit for circumstances."
However, Sheriff Fleetwood said: “Since the report was made, he has done seven hours in almost a year."
“He has done a further seven," Mr Maltman said.
“That is 14 now," Sheriff Fleetwood said.
"So he was coming to court today and he thought: ‘Oh, I had better do it now and turn up.’
“That is quite pathetic, Mr Stewart, and that is even worse than not doing it.
“You don’t get it do you?"
Despite the additional work hours, the Sheriff said: “He is still in breach of this order.
“He has had a chance, why should I give him another one?"
Mr Maltman said the 24-year-old had struggled to complete ordered work due to "a short period of imprisonment" and the hospitalisation of a family member.
“My Lord, it doesn’t make good reading whatsoever," Mr Maltman said.
“However, he is intending to get matters back on track."
Sheriff Fleetwood replied: “Back on the right track is a strange form of words – it’s never been on track.”
“I look forward to hearing your excuses before I send you to jail."
Stewart, addressing Sheriff Fleetwood, said: “I have been dealing with a lot of stuff."
And asked why he should not be sent to jail, the 24-year-old said: “Taking me away from my two children."
“Why don’t I take you away from your two children?" Sheriff Fleetwood replied.
Sheriff Fleetwood gave Stewart another six weeks to complete the work.
“You will turn up on every occasion," Sheriff Fleetwood said.
“If you miss any of them, short of death or hospitalisation, you will be going to jail.
“You will be seeing me again in six weeks.
“And I will be expecting at least 60 hours by that time.
“I look forward to hearing your excuses before I send you to jail."
Stewart is to appear again at Elgin Sheriff Court on October 6.
