The man – who Express has chosen not to name as he was under 18 at the time of his original conviction – was told by Assistant Magistrate Sarah Fitz that the Youth Court was left with no other options but custody.
Legal Adviser Samantha Nixon, prosecuting, said that the man had been sentenced to 180 hours of community service and put on probation for 12 months after drugs and public order offences and thefts.
He had broken and entered a bar and stolen bottles of spirits, had also stolen from a supermarket, had been found in possession of cannabis with intent to supply it, had become abusive and disruptive, had obstructed a police officer who had searched him for drugs and had been found with ecstasy, cannabis and cannabis resin.
On13 June the court had heard that he had breached his community service order and was given another chance. But on Tuesday it heard that he had breached again, on 2 July, after becoming “argumentative and verbally abusive” towards a manager.
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, pointed out that he had complied very well with the probation order element of the sentence, but admitted: “The community service set-up is just not working.”
Of the breach on 2 July, she said he had been told off for working too slowly. She said: “Other people were doing it more quickly but he thought they were not taking so much care over it. He genuinely thought he was doing it to a good standard.”
The man also addressed the court, saying: “I just want to sort everything out and have a normal life again. I regret everything I’ve done.”
Assistant Magistrate Sarah Fitz said she there were no alternatives to prison as he had used up his chances, and sentenced him to seven months behind bars.
She said of the first breach: “The court very much hoped that we wouldn’t be seeing you another time. But you find yourself here again.
“Having given you so many chances we reluctantly accept that we have no other options left.”