A GLENOCHIL prisoner, currently serving a six-year prison term for “torturing” another man, has admitted a charge of possessing a mobile phone in the Clacks jail.

Ross Gourlay (23) appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Monday (15 June) and pleaded guilty to the offence which took place on 30 November 2014.

Depute fiscal Denise Bruce said that officers in the prison had attended the accused’s cell and found him in possession of a phone, a SIM card and other accessories.

A “struggle then ensued” which resulted in Gourlay swallowing the SIM.

He then told guards that he had been keeping the phone for someone else.

When asked what punishment he had received in the prison, the court heard he was sent to segregation for four days while losing 14 days of wages and privileges.

Gourlay was jailed in 2011 for a serious violent offence and is currently due to be liberated on 25 August of this year.

And as his release date is a mere two months away, his defence lawyer asked Sheriff Eric Brown to impose a financial penalty in respect of the currrent offence.

However, the “net result” of this sentence, the sheriff argued, would result in “no punishment at all” as the prisoner would not be able to pay the fine.

Instead, he ordered that criminal justice social work reports be carried out to help provide sentencing options.

Gourlay and his father Paul Farrell were convicted of slashing a man in his Galashiels home before pouring hot kettle water over him in March 2011.

He was just 18 when he helped carry out the attack which left the victim permanently disfigured, with scalds to his chin, cheek, forehead, shoulder and arm.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the two attended the man’s home uninvited and carried out the drink-fuelled assault.

It was said that the two laughed while their victim tried to defend himself.

During sentencing, Lord Tyre told Gourlay: “You have a truly deplorable record for your age.

“If anything you pose a greater risk to the public, following release, than your father.” Gourlay was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for his role,while his father was given eight years.

The 23-year-old will also face a period of four years’ supervision when released.

At the time of the attack, Gourlay was awaiting sentencing for his part in robbing two teenagers of an iPod and was later given a total of 23 months’ in prison.

He will now appear at Alloa Sheriff Court on 16 July to find out whether his sentence will be extended.