A WHITECROOK man who kicked a police officer on the head and forced his thumb into another cop’s eye has been given a fresh chance to stay out of prison – despite breaching a community-based sentence imposed for the crime.

John Shirley was handed a community payback order (CPO) last year as a punishment for the incident in Kilbowie Road in February 2018.

The 23-year-old, of Braes Avenue, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Friday.

His solicitor, Matthew Harding, said: “The breach of his CPO was accepted. The essence of the breach is in relation to the unpaid work element of the order – he was told to do 250 hours and has done 34.

“He fully accepts the breach and has given reasons for his failings. I think there is some progress in his attitude.”

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Sheriff William Gallacher told Shirley: “However hesitant I am, I’m willing to believe that your sight now is less clouded by your own view that you were hard done by.

“That’s false. I get the impression not what even if you don’t like the situation, you’re prepared to accept it.”

Shirley’s original CPO was revoked and a new order with the same conditions as the previous one – 12 months’ social work supervision and a punishment of 250 hours of unpaid work within eight months – was imposed in its place.

Sheriff Gallacher warned Shirley: “There are no other options left here: if you don’t do this now, you’ll find yourself in custody, because that’s the only option. You must comply.”

A review hearing was fixed for June 7.