A BONHILL drug addict with an “appalling” criminal record has managed to avoid a prison sentence for directing a tirade of abuse towards his partner and another man.

Instead Craig Taylor – who was out from prison on licence when he committed the crime – will undergo an assessment in the next few weeks to find out whether he might be suitable for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) as part of his punishment for the outburst.

O'Hare resident Taylor, 46, appeared in court for sentencing on Thursday after pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the pair at another O'Hare address and a footpath in Ladyton on March 8.

Taylor had been remanded in custody on the day he admitted the offence – but was released on bail on Thursday to allow the DTTO assessment to take place.

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court, Taylor's solicitor appealed to Sheriff Maxwell Hendry not to send his client to jail because of the progress he was making in dealing with a long-standing addiction problem.

The agent said: “He previously lived in Paisley, but was keeping out of trouble in this area.

“Whilst in custody he contacted a group which assists people with addiction problem.

“Unfortunately he was transferred from Low Moss prison to Greenock near the end of his sentence and none of the support he required was put in place.

“He got back on a methadone programme and did attend the local addiction team, where he was honest enough to admit that he had abused drugs in the period since his release from custody.”

Sheriff Hendry noted that Taylor had been made the subject of a DTTO almost a decade previously, but that the order had fallen through when he committed another offence very soon after it took effect.

The sheriff said: “There is a history of him not really co-operating with people who are trying to help him. Community payback orders have not succeeded.

“I want him to understand that I don't view myself as losing any sentencing options.

“If he is assessed as suitable for a DTTO and doesn't comply with that, he would have to accept that he would be subject to a fairly lengthy prison sentence, which could include the unexpired portion [of his previous jail term].”

Addressing Taylor directly, Sheriff Hendry said: “A DTTO is not an easy option, though it no doubt seems a preferable option to a lengthy period in prison.

“If you don't take the opportunity, I'm going to send you to prison for as long a period as I think an appeal would be unsuccessful.”

The case was adjourned until May 3 to allow the DTTO assessment to be carried out.