A drunk who stole booze and caused havoc in a Paisley shop just 24 hours after being arrested has been branded a “public danger” by a sheriff.
William Edwards trashed a display and behaved threateningly towards staff at Tesco Express filling station in Paisley’s Renfrew Road on December 14 last year - 24 hours after being lifted by cops for a ‘carbon copy’ incident in Glasgow’s Crookston.
The 30-year-old refused to leave, lifted cans of cider off the shelf and began drinking before refusing to pay at both premises in a bid to ‘get the jail’.
His behaviour, which was slammed by Sheriff Brian Mohan at Paisley Sheriff Court, was described as a “cry for help” by his lawyer who said Edwards was not coping out of custody.
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Edwards appeared at court via video link on Friday where it was heard he entered the newsagent in Crookston around 8pm and picked up a can of cider.
However, when the worker approached him, he became “increasingly agitated” and hurled abuse, threatening to wreck the shop.
Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald said: “The female member of staff observed him standing on the shop floor drinking from a can of cider.
“She approached him and asked him if he was going to pay for the items in his possession.
“He then said ‘no, are you going to make me?’
“At which point she asked him to leave the premises.
“At this point, his behaviour deteriorated, he refused to leave, began shouting and swearing and walking around the store.
“He took possession of a glass bottle of soft drink and threatened to wreck the shop at this point.
“The staff member continually asked him to leave and he continued to refuse, walking in and out of the shop becoming increasingly agitated.
“She activated the silent alarm and explained to the control room and they contacted the police.
“She advised him the police had been contacted and he replied ‘so what?’
“At this point he continually left and returned.”
Police arrived around 8.50pm to speak with staff about the incident.
While still in attendance, Edwards entered the shop again drinking from another can of cider and was pointed out to police who arrested him.
The very next day, also around 8pm, Edwards entered the Tesco filling station after being released from custody where he continued his behaviour.
Mr McDonald added: “He began knock items off the display on to the floor, damaging several items.
“A member of staff approached him to ask if she could help him, to which he replied that he wanted to go to jail.
“He was told he could not carry on in this manner.
“He then took a short step towards her and said ‘what are you going to do about it?’
“This alarmed the member of staff who contacted the police.”
The court heard a customer tried to calm Edwards and usher him out of the shop, where he was arrested a short time later.
Edwards admitted the charges against him when he appeared at court, with his lawyer saying it was an attempt to get back into custody as he was struggling with drink and drugs.
She added: “He had been doing well out of custody for six weeks and then found himself in homeless accommodation.
“Unfortunately things deteriorated from there and he wanted, in his words, to ‘get the jail’.
“He was in a cycle he couldn’t get out of and the only way he felt he could get support before was when he was serving a custodial sentence.
“There is no excuse for his behaviour and he knows what his fate is going to be.”
Sheriff Brian Mohan slammed Edwards for behaving threateningly towards two female members of staff who were “just trying to do their job”.
He added: “If he isn’t going to bother his shirt and do anything about his issues then he is just going to find himself getting longer and longer custodial sentences.
“He is a public danger.”
Edwards will return to court for sentencing on April 25.
