A LAWYER convinced a sheriff not to jail her client so that he could continue to share his current cell with someone he gets on well with.

Paul Domanski appeared from custody at Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday, May 9, as he is currently on remand at Barlinnie in relation to a petition matter.

At a previous hearing, Domanski had pleaded guilty to nine charges, and Sheriff David Mackie intimated that he would wish to hear the circumstances before sentencing.

The charges he faces include acting in a threatening and abusive manner on October 27 of last year at an address in Coalsnaughton. He demanded entry to the property before kicking and punching the door.

Then on October 30 at Gartmorn Road, Sauchie, he shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence and sexual violence towards police officers.

During that same incident, he assaulted a police officer by spitting on his head.

On September 18 at two addresses in Coalsnaughton, he threatened to assault a man with a machete before threatening to assault police officers and their families.

That same date, he was also charged with driving while over the legal limit with a breath reading of 29mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the limit is 22mg. He was also driving the car without insurance.

However, Kelly Howe, representing the 25-year-old, told the sheriff that her client was currently sharing a cell with a "much older male who suffers from similar mental health problems" to Domanski.

She said: "He [Domanski] has benefitted massively from sharing the cell and hopes to stay with him for a while longer without being made a prisoner yet."

If Sheriff Mackie decided to sentence Domanski, of Hareburn Road, to a custodial sentence, he would be taken off the remand wing and placed within another section of the prison.

Sheriff Mackie said: "I'm glad you explained this; usually there are benefits to someone coming out of remand and into the main body of a prison, but I understand the situation here."

The case was continued for two weeks to allow the unrelated petition case to progress before sentencing will occur for these charges.