A THUG who attacked and robbed a woman has been spared jail after a sheriff was told that FIFTEEN previous prison sentences have had 'very little impact' on him.

Shawn Gallacher had been remanded in custody last month pending sentencing after a jury took less than an hour to unanimously convict him of targeting the woman in broad daylight.

But he is now free to 'sort his life out' after a sheriff decided to impose a high tariff unpaid work order and also placed the 26-year-old on an electronic tagging curfew.

Defence lawyer Mark Chambers told Greenock Sheriff Court: "He is a man with an unenviable record and I understand that consideration of prison will be first and foremost in the court's mind.

"However, he has been sent to prison on at least 15 occasions, and the author of the background report states that those periods in custody have had very little impact on his continued offending."

Gallacher — who previously carried out an assault to severe injury with a knife — violently robbed the woman at Custom House Way in May last year.

The court heard how he pulled her by the legs from a wall she was sitting on before forcing her arm up her back and fleecing her of £80 in cash.

Solicitor Mr Chambers said: "This offence was impulsive and fortunately there was no injury to the complainer.

"The report does allow the court to consider a direct alternative to custody here.

"His partner is pregnant and they also have a son who has a cerebral palsy."

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Gallacher: "Your record is very bad and I am easily entitled to sentence you to a significant period of imprisonment.

"That was at the forefront of my mind, however, the report is favourable to you and urges me to consider a community payback order.

"The best prospect for the local community, and for you, is that you stop offending and sort your life out."

Gallacher has been ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work within six months and must remain at home between 8pm and 5.30am each day for four months as a direct alternative to prison.

A review hearing is due to take place on June 29.

Sheriff McIntyre told Gallacher, of MacBeth Road: "I hope that you look back on this day as a positive one and not a negative one."