A MAN behind a three-year litany of crimes in Helensburgh and Glasgow has been jailed – after begging to be locked up.

James Harkins’ lawyer said his client believed prison was essential to get the 21-year-old the help he needed.

Harkins, formerly of the Ardmore Guest House in West Clyde Street and the County Hotel on Old Luss Road, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to charges including theft, threatening behaviour and numerous breaches of court orders.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told that Harkins’ offending began at a flat in Helensburgh’s Drumfork Court on March 30, 2020, when he broke in and stole a quantity of cash and tablets.

But his criminal behaviour spiralled out of control between August of last year and April 18 this year.

On August 15, 2022, at Parnie Street in Glasgow city centre, Harkins failed to tell police he had a piece of broken glass on him when repeatedly asked if he had any weapons before a search.

On October 11 and 12, he breached a condition of a court undertaking by failing to be within his home address between 7pm and 7am.

He had been caught on the night of October 11 shouting, uttering abusive remarks and breaking a glass at the Royal Bar in Helensburgh.

On November 22, Harkins stole a bicycle from a property in the town’s Collins Road while on bail from Dumbarton Sheriff Court – and on the same date he was found within the curtilage of properties in Lomond Grove and Hermitage Academy with the intention of committing a theft.

At all three locations Harkins was in breach of a curfew imposed as part of his bail order.

And on January 28 this year, he shouted, swore and uttered homophobic remarks towards police in West Clyde Street.

Harkins then moved to the County Hotel and had a new bail curfew imposed on February 2 – but he breached the curfew on February 7 and 17 and again on April 17.

He also breached a bail curfew imposed at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on February 20 by failing to be within his registered address at the same hotel on March 7 and April 18.

At a hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on June 6, Harkins’ solicitor said his client had asked that a strict prison sentence be imposed so he could get help.

Scott Adair, defending, said: "There are some aspects that would help him on a community-based disposal. But he has asked me to ask your lordship to simply take the view that only a custodial sentence can be imposed, with as strict a sentence as you can. 

“Whilst in custody he will deal with his addiction difficulties by using the services available to him.”

Harkins was handed a seven-month jail term, backdated to April, for the two curfew breaches committed during that month.

On the rest of the charges, sentence was deferred until July, by which time he is likely to have been released from prison.

The sheriff said: “I feel you are at a crossroads in your life. You were going in one direction for some time; I hope it is obvious to you that it is the wrong direction.

"There is still time for you to make a change. It gives no pleasure to be sentencing a 21-year-old to custody, but I think that is what is required to re-enforce in your mind that you don't want to keep making the mistakes you have been making in the past.

"Once you are at the end of this sentence I will look to see if there are safe ways to reintegrate you into the community. I will try to achieve that if I can."