PUNISHMENT orders imposed on criminals who have been convicted at Greenock Sheriff Court are not being carried out due to staff shortages within Inverclyde Council, the Telegraph can reveal.

Backlogs for unpaid work directives handed down to lawbreakers are several months long because the local authority does not have enough supervisors to oversee ‘squads’ of offenders, it has emerged.

The problem regarding the execution of community payback orders (CPOs) came to light when the court was told that a drug offender who was given 180 hours as a direct alternative to prison had not carried out any of the sentence — which was imposed on him in April.

It was stated during a hearing concerning cannabis grower Gary McGowan that ‘there are ongoing problems regarding staffing difficulties for squad supervisors for CPOs’.

Meanwhile, a question from the Telegraph to the council as to how many CPOs have been affected by the staffing issues has gone unanswered.

However, the court was told that there are ‘several’ cases where unpaid work has not been carried out and that sheriffs have been made aware of the problem and are now having to grant time extensions for the orders to be completed.

It is understood that the council is currently four squad supervisors short of a full complement — as fresh CPOs with unpaid work elements continue to be imposed at the court on a weekly basis.

Inverclyde’s Health and Social Care Partnership today admitted that supervisor posts remain vacant.

A spokesman said: “The service has experienced a recent high level of staff turnover.

“While the recruitment process is under way, a short term contingency arrangement has been put in place with temporary staff filling posts.”

But it is not clear whether or not all CPOs are now being fulfilled as a result of the contingency arrangement, because the council did not respond to that question.

Offender McGowan was caught with two cannabis plants when police raided his home in Greenock’s Sutherland Road.

He was ordered to carry out his 180 hours within six months but had not completed any between April and July.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said that a further complication since then had been the fact that his client’s partner had given birth.

But Sheriff Tom McCartney declared that this was no excuse for not doing the hours.

The lawman said: “Mr McGowan has to understand that this sentence is a direct alternative to custody.

“Regardless of his domestic situation he must do the work, or go to prison.

“He has a significant record for previous offending.

“This work cannot be done as and when it suits him and he will have to arrange his affairs in order to do it.”

The sheriff allowed further time for the unpaid work to be carried out and said that it must be completed by October 27.