A YOUNG Man who begged a court for a jail sentence has had his wish refused because he has spent so long in remand.

Angus Craig, a remand prisoner at HMYOI Polmont, was appearing at Alloa Sheriff Court last week after pleading guilty to two breaches of his bail order.

Steven Maguire, representing Craig, said his client wanted a custodial sentence as it would allow him to continue with his life behind bars by participating in activities such as gaining qualifications.

This is not possible in Craig’s current predicament as remand prisoners cannot enrol in such services.

The first breach the accused committed was on November 16 of last year at Chapelle Crescent, Tillicoultry. 

Craig, also known as Angus Cowan, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner and proceeded to utter threats of violence towards police officers before barricading himself inside the property.

He then threatened to set fire to the address while throwing household objects out of the window at police officers.

“I respectfully consider that any sentence I impose over and above this time would be excessive.”

The second charge accused Craig of culpably and recklessly throwing a kettle containing boiling water out of a window and setting alight an aerosol canister, exposing police officers outside to the risk of injury.

Mr Maguire told the court that his client was leading a pitiful existence inside Polmont as a remand prisoner, and in the past has made significant progress while being locked up.

Craig, who is facing further charges this month, hence why he is still on remand, was locked up from November until June, and then put back in jail from July until his trial.

In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie told Craig that his time on remand was the same as any sentence would have been.

He said: “Of the two charges you pleaded guilty to, the second is particularly serious involving a kettle and boiling water.

“I have given special thought to the two periods spent on remand. The total period you spent on remand matches any sentence which you would have been given.

“In respect of the charges, it would be inappropriate for me to impose any additional sentence. As far as the breach is concerned, I make no order. 

“It may not be the result you were wanting because you were wanting a sentence that would improve your conditions in prison, but I respectfully consider that any sentence I impose over and above this time would be excessive.”