by Craig Borland

A CLYDEBANK man who flew into a drunken rage at a neighbour he blamed for his car being seized has been given a final chance to avoid a prison sentence.

Brian Busby smashed his neighbour’s front door window with the head of a wooden brush last December.

The 23-year-old appeared in court on Friday for a review of a community-based sentence imposed for behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property.

And though the court was told Busby had completed just a small fraction of the 150 hours of unpaid work imposed as a punishment in February – and had been remanded in custody for failing to comply – the presiding sheriff agreed to scrap the previous order and impose a new one.

Busby’s solicitor said her client, previously of Faifley Road, had now moved to the Aberdeen area to make a fresh start after the incident.

A previous court hearing was told the incident with the brush happened after Busby blamed his neighbour for his car being seized by a finance company.

Busby was said to have been paying £350 a month to his neighbour on the understanding that the neighbour was passing on that money to the finance company.

Gail Campbell, defending, said Busby had paid a £200 compensation order in full to his neighbour to repay the damage to the door.

Referring to his non-compliance with the previous order – on which he has completed only 14 hours of unpaid work – Ms Campbell told the court: “He, in his own words, was burying his head in the sand.

“He is trying his best but understands, through his period on remand, that this is a punishment. His situation is completely stark. He understands that this could be his last chance.

“He is now away from influences which didn’t help him, although he has to accept his conduct is his responsibility.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Busby: “With considerable hesitation I’m going to impose a fresh order. I’m not entirely sure I believe you will stick to it. But it will be apparent you have been given every opportunity.

“It’s a straight alternative to custody, and if you don’t do it that’s what will happen.”

The order was transferred to Aberdeen Sheriff Court, where Busby will appear at a review hearing on March 14.