A DRUG abusing teenager jailed for being a nuisance in a court foyer has been spared a further custodial sentence – after attacking a young woman in the street.

Intoxicated Robert Joyce assaulted and dragged his ‘struggling’ ex-girlfriend across a road after she decided to end their relationship.

He only let go of her after police on a routine patrol arrived on the scene.

Sheriff Ian Fleming, pictured, placed the 19-year-old multiple offender under future supervision in the community for 12 months after hearing that he was already in jail.

The Telegraph reported last week how Joyce, of Brookfield Road in Port Glasgow, received a 60-day sentence for a breach of the peace within Greenock’s sheriff court building.

He was barely able to stand up and repeatedly refused to leave whilst heavily under the influence of valium.

In sending him to a young offenders’ institution, Sheriff Derek Hamilton told him: “People don’t like having to run a gauntlet of accused people or witnesses acting in a frightening way.” As Joyce returned to court to be dealt with for his latest offence, prosecutor Lindy Scaife told Sheriff Fleming how Joyce seized hold of his ex in a ‘bear hug’ before starting to drag her across Northfield Avenue on 7 September.

The fiscal depute said: “He was in a relationship with the complainer. She had ended it that morning.

“She was struggling to get free. He released her on seeing the police.

“The accused was intoxicated at the time and made no reply when cautioned and charged.” Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said Joyce had ‘shown a degree of remorse’, adding: “He has some insight into why this type of behaviour cannot be tolerated.

“He has a propensity to abuse controlled drugs and it does get him into bother.

“He expresses a great desire to address his problems and break this cycle he is on.” In handing down a community payback order with a supervision clause to begin on his release from custody, Sheriff Fleming warned Joyce: “If you don’t comply, with your record, you may very well be going back to Polmont.”