by Paul Behan

A MAN convicted of racially abusing two people was hauled back in front of a Sheriff after failing to comply with a Community Payback Order.

Andrew Summers, 22, of Parkhall Terrrace, Clydebank, appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, February 7, to learn his fate.

He was previously sentenced to unpaid work in the community after a trial found him guilty of acting in racially aggravated manner which caused, or was intended to cause, alarm and distress to two people and shouting racial abuse at them in February 2015.

But not enough hours of unpaid work had been carried out, prompting Summers to be held in custody, pending a social work report.

When the case returned to court last Tuesday Summers’ defence solicitor told Sheriff William Gallacher: “The situation is that he has been in custody since January 4.

“He has never had to serve a sentence (before) and many people will say that it’s a lesson; the experience of being in custody. It has caused him extreme stress, it’s not an environment he’s settled into.

“He did put in 54 hours (unpaid work) but I am going to ask you to impose a new community payback order. I can only say that he has showed great naivety in his personal matters.”

Sheriff Gallacher told Summers: “I take into account what’s said in the report but you put yourself in this situation. You decided you were not going to comply and now you know what the consequences are. I have also taken into account the period you have been in custody.

“I will revoke the original order but I’ll impose a new one.”

Summers was ordered to carry out 125 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next nine months and will be placed under supervision for a period of one year.