Thug jailed for robbing an adolescent on a bus in Hamilton while excessive on drink and drugs - Scottish daily checklist

A Lanarkshire thug high on drink and medicines robbed a teenager of his cellphone at knifepoint on a bus visiting via Hamilton.

John Paul Jones, of Coalburn, admitted a charge of assaulting and robbing a teenage male on a bus journeying between Glasgow city centre and Hamilton town centre on July 23, 2014.

The 26-year-historic obtained a two-year reformatory time period for the offence at Hamilton Sheriff courtroom on Monday.

Fiscal depute Callum Forsyth had instructed the court docket the teenager had boarded the 255 service to Motherwell at Glasgow's Buchanan road bus station on July 23 at 10.15pm. He had been out with friends and turned into returning domestic.

The accused boarded the bus at Renfield highway within the city with a male affiliate. They walked to the returned of the vehicle and sat close the complainer.

Mr Forsyth talked about the complainer and the accused started chatting and the dialog persisted for a while. despite the fact, issues took a turn for the more serious when the accused, sitting appropriate beside the complainer, grew to become towards him and instructed him to give up his cell.

The fiscal depute talked about the complainer had been bowled over as he concept things had been going quality up unless that factor. Jones, who became keeping a bottle of Buckfast, changed into intoxicated.

The complainer refused to surrender the cell and Jones produced a knife from his pocket. He held the knife towards the complainer's body.

Jones put his hand into the boy's jacket pocket and eliminated a Samsung cell phone from the jacket.

Mr Forsyth spoke of the accused and his affiliate left the bus at Hamilton. The boy advised the motive force what had occurred. Police were contacted and the bus persisted towards Motherwell teach station. Officers went to the station and had been instructed what had took place.

An investigation started and CCTV footage turned into examined. Mr Forsyth noted the complainer recognized the accused from a book of photos. Jones changed into later detained and following interview, when recommended and charged, stated: "I didn't do it".

The assault and theft charge had at the start brought up Jones had compelled the boy to devour drink, push him on the physique, restrain him and place his quit his mouth. however, his plea to an amended can charge which made no mention of this become authorised through the Crown.

His now not guilty plea to a can charge of getting a knife on the bus become permitted by the Crown.

Jones's agent Jason Stark known that Sheriff Thomas Millar could sentence his customer rapidly. youngsters, he asked Sheriff Millar to call for experiences.

He defined that Jones had underlying drug concerns. He had been on bail on the count considering that 2014 and had complied with bail circumstances.

Jones had "little or no recollection" of events that day as he had been below the have an impact on of drink and medicines.

Mr Stark referred to Jones, answerable for his associate and baby, favored the seriousness of the count number and asked Sheriff Millar to call for a full range of reviews to explore non-custodial sentencing alternate options.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Millar observed Jones had a history of offending including assaults and the possession of knives.

He advised him: "americans on buses and trains are in a very vulnerable position. They can not circulation away. This behaviour cannot be tolerated."

He brought that the 24-month penitentiary time period would allow him to get drug treatment whereas in jail.

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