A MAN who drunkenly crashed a bus in Greenock after being released early from a 30-month prison sentence is back behind bars.

Scott Rooney, 22, has been returned to jail for the 15 months remaining on his jail term for a booze-fuelled knife attack which left his victim scarred for life.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre imposed a further three months on Rooney for smashing the bus into two parked cars on Drumfrochar Road.

The lawman remarked that Rooney — who has never held a driving licence — was in a 'considerable position of trust' in being released so early from a 'very serious' sentence.

He was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit when he caused the drink-driving crash in the early hours of November 11.

Police found him behind the driver's seat of the bus with an empty Stella Artois beer can lying nearby.

Rooney was jailed in September last year for slashing a man eight times with a blade during an all-day drinking session involving Mad Dog wine, vodka, whisky and cider.

He carried out the attack after assaulting his own girlfriend by repeatedly punching her and throwing her to floor within a caravan at Wemyss Bay.

Rooney was previously cleared at the High Court in 2016 of a charge of murdering Greenock man Michael Mearns, 56, in the town's cemetery.

Defence lawyer David Tod told the bus crash sentencing hearing: "Mr Rooney pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and he shows appropriate remorse when sober.

"He acknowledges that he has a problem with drugs."

Sheriff McIntyre told Rooney: "You were released early from a prison sentence and whilst you may be entitled to early release it has to be understood that you were still subject to that sentence.

"People rightly expect that one of the consequences is that you are returned to prison.

"This offence is not analogous to the other one but it is still serious in my view."

The sheriff added: "You placed people in danger and you will be returned to prison for 15 months, and on the new offence an alternative to prison is not an option so the sentence for this will be one of three months."

Rooney, formerly of East Street, Greenock, has also been banned from driving for 28 months.