Published: Monday, 22nd June, 2009 2:00pm

Jailed beggar apologises to town

by David Moroney

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DOCK: Greenock Sheriff Court.

A GREENOCK man has apologised to the people of the town as he was sentenced to more than two years in prison for a string of offences.

Euan Donnachie appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court on 19 charges after causing breaches of the peace for begging, and breaching his probation orders and curfews.

Standing in the dock, he told the court: 'I want to say sorry to the people of Greenock for being such a bad person.'

Sheriff John Herald told the 33-year-old: 'There have been more public funds spent on you than anyone else I have dealt with in 17 years in this court. More reports have been written for you than anyone else.

'You have been given the benefit of a drug treatment testing order and breached it. You have been placed on curfews and breached them. You have been subject to anti-social behaviour orders and breached them.

'It ends today - you are going to prison for a long time.'

Solicitor Gerry Keenan said his client"s most recent difficulties arose when he lost his tenancy. He said: 'Things spiralled after he was evicted.'

Donnachie pleaded guilty to all charges against him, including one of breaching an Asbo by begging at Gourock Railway Station on 14 November last year, and by begging in Greenock"s West Blackhall Street on 25 November last year.

Sheriff Herald sentenced Donnachie, of Dempster Street, to a total of 28 months in prison when he appeared in court on Thursday.