A BONHILL woman who moved to the south of England in a bid to turn her life around after a 2013 incident at her former home has returned to court for punishment – almost four years after committing the offence.

Josephine McKenzie was told to carry out one hundred hours of unpaid community work in her new home patch when she appeared in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday.

McKenzie, 44, was listed in court papers as being a resident of Braehead – but her solicitor told the court she was now living in West Sussex.

She had previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive fashion by shouting and swearing at an address in nearby O'Hare, and then again at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, on March 6, 2013.

Sentence had been deferred to allow a social work report to be prepared.

Roddy Boag, defending, told Thursday's hearing: “There was a fairly lengthy period where she was away.

“Her lifestyle changed substantially. There is a significant difference in the way she looks, and that is borne out in the report.”

Sheriff William Gallacher replied: “It shouldn't be apt for someone to disappear off the face of the earth and not face the consequences, but if I am not to impose a custodial sentence, is there a need, in the current circumstances, to do anything else?”

Turning to address McKenzie directly, the sheriff said: “I am utterly unimpressed with those who disappear in this fashion. It's remarkable you managed to avoid execution of a warrant for years.”

McKenzie was told to carry out the unpaid work within six months and was placed under social work supervision for the same period.