Man spared jail over a daylight robbery and assault on a woman has continued to flout an unpaid work punishment

Shawn Gallacher, 27 — who has been sent to prison on 15 previous occasions — was allowed until September to complete the original six-month community sentence handed to him last June.

But the thug has repeatedly failed to carry out the court order, which was imposed on him as a direct alternative to a sixteenth spell in jail, since being granted the time extension in January.

His lawyer told Greenock Sheriff Court: "He engages in supervision but the work element seems to be lacking."

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre responded: "It's obvious he doesn't like unpaid work.

"I'll cut to the chase, he's not going to get out of it.

"The only way out of it is prison, which is a distinct possibility at this stage.

"He will have to understand."

Gallacher — who has carried out an assault to severe injury with a knife in the past — robbed the woman at Greenock's Custom House Way in May 2017.

He pulled her by the legs from a wall she was sitting on, then forced her arm up her back and took £80 in cash.

Sheriff McIntyre said: "I have already extended the order until September 5 and I am not prepared to extend it further, as this is plenty of time to do it."

The lawman also imposed a further 100 hours on Gallacher, of MacBeth Road in Greenock, for a previous offence of stealing a dumper truck and driving it without a licence.

This must be completed within a year.

A progress review hearing has been set for August 21.

Sheriff McIntyre warned Gallacher: "I'm expecting no problems this time."