A MAN who has flouted a community payback order for a weapon offence he committed nearly three years ago has been spared prison.

Michael Dorrian was caught with a garotte-style wire in his jacket pocket after being found asleep in the middle of a road near his home in July 2016.

The 28-year-old had been given a 120-hour unpaid work order but has continually failed to turn up for the placement despite a period in prison on remand.

Dorrian was given a further 12 months to do the work last July after his lawyer told Greenock Sheriff Court that he'd 'learned his lesson' from his spell of being locked up.

But he has now admitted a further breach of the community-based sentence.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton told Dorrian, of the Port's Muirdykes Avenue: "You were quite fortunate not to be sent to custody when this matter was first dealt with.

"You had a garotte-style wire without excuse.

"You have been given the opportunity of unpaid work but are clearly not interested in complying."

The court heard previously how drivers had to stop on the road shortly before midnight on July 22, 2016 because Dorrian was lying asleep on the carriageway.

Prosecutor Saud Ul Hassan said: "He was woken and brought to his feet. His eyes were glazed, his speech slurred and he was unsteady.

"He was searched and a garrote-style wire with a metal ring on each side was recovered from the right hand pocket of his jacket.

"The accused stated, 'It's an offensive weapon, I know I shouldn't have it'."

Sheriff Hamilton revoked the unpaid work order and placed Dorrian on an electronic tag to remain at home between 6pm and 6am each day for four months.

The lawman warned him: "If it is breached it's a one-way ticket from there."