A GREENOCK shoplifter has been warned he’s on his ‘last chance’ to stay out of prison after he threatened to stab a shop security guard.
Sean McCluskey triggered an alarm at the Tesco store in Dalrymple Street after being seen acting suspiciously in the shop before the incident.
Greenock Sheriff Court heard that the security guard had removed a bag from McCluskey’s possession after the alarm was activated on November 26, 2024.
The 34-year-old began to shout and swear at the man, as well as threatening to stab him, after his bag was seized.
Stolen toiletries with a value of £14 were recovered from the bag before it was returned to McCluskey.
The incident was later reported to police.
McCluskey pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner earlier this year.
The Nelson Street resident returned to court on Monday for sentencing on both the shoplifting incident and a separate case involving a serious assault elsewhere in Greenock.
The assault took place in the town’s St Lawrence Street on June 7, 2024.
McCluskey previously admitted seizing the victim by the throat and struggling violently with him before then punching and kicking him on the head and body, leaving him severely injured.
Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher described his client’s behaviour towards the Tesco security guard as ‘totally unacceptable’.
Mr Gallagher added: “No one should be subject to any form of abuse, especially threats – particularly those in their place of work.”
The lawyer urged Sheriff Anthony McGeehan to deal with the cases by way of a community-based sentence, noting that McCluskey had complied well with social work supervision which was imposed for a separate offence.
Sheriff McGeehan concluded that a non-custodial disposal was appropriate, but warned McCluskey it would be his ‘last chance’ to avoid prison.
For the shoplifting incident, he was put on a community payback order which will see him supervised by social workers for a further 12 months; he was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
For the St Lawrence Street assault, McCluskey was put on a strict nightly curfew lasting for 46 weeks; he will have to wear an electronic tag to ensure that he complies.
Sheriff McGeehan told McCluskey: “You’re an adult. You understand the consequence of not complying.
“These have been imposed as a last alternative given your record.”
Source – Greenock Telegraph