A HELENSBURGH man who was spared jail earlier this year for a housebreaking offence will spend most of the next two years in prison after the "wheels came off" in his life.

William McFall was handed a community payback order (CPO) in June after admitting breaking into a flat in Drumfork Court in July 2018, along with another man, 24-year-old Iain Campbell of Nursery Street, and stealing various items, including keys, watch and a mask, from inside.

But since then, 40-year-old McFall, of Williamson Drive, has been jailed for 30 months for a separate offence, committed in August, in which he demanded money from a woman in the town and slashed the tyres of a car in Logie Place in Kirkmichael.

At a CPO review hearing on December 13, the order was revoked and a prison sentence imposed instead.

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Defence lawyer Stephen McGuire told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: "The initial review of the order indicated an encouraging early response, but around then the wheels rather fell off.

"He committed a 'section 49' offence and a 'section 38' offence [possession of a bladed weapon and threatening or abusive behaviour] on August 15, which revolved around a financial dispute, and a vandalism.

"The last review of this order was on October 16, but on October 30 he pleaded guilty to the August matter and was sentenced to 30 months.

"That sentence is not subject to any appeal, and his earliest release date on that matter is November 30, 2020.

"He has been told that when he emerges from custody, support will be there for some form of rehabilitation."

Mr McGuire told Sheriff Maxwell Hendry: "He knows there is still work to do, and that that will be a long term process.

"But he understands that your Lordship may feel constrained to extend his period in custody."

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Sheriff Hendry said: "I remember dealing with this case in June. I remember that I had considerable doubts as to whether I was doing the right thing.

"Mr Campbell seems to have responded quite well to the opportunities given to him; the same can't be said of Mr McFall."

Turning to address McFall directly, the sheriff said: "The future looks bleak; it looks as if you're likely to take up space in Her Majesty's prisons for most of the rest of your life.

"Perhaps I made a mistake in even allowing you to attempt a CPO, although I accept that for a short period things did seem to be going well."

McFall was handed an 18-month jail sentence, on top of the 30 months imposed at the end of October; he won't be eligible for release on licence until August 2021.

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