A KNIFE offender who blatantly flouted a community payback order has been spared jail.
Peter McCullagh had been given an 18-month alcohol treatment and supervision directive last June.
But the 49-year-old — who was carrying a lock-back knife in the street at 1am — hasn't done any of it.
McCullagh was drunk when police approached him on Greenock's Belville Street and recovered the blade.
The officers' attention was initially drawn to a larger pointed object protruding from a rear pocket, which turned out to be a TV aerial.
Prosecutor Lindy Scaife told the sheriff court: "The police required to attend regarding another matter.
"The accused was standing outside, clearly under the influence of alcohol.
"A red-handled lock-back knife was recovered from him."
Dad-of-two McCullagh was given the non-work community order after pleading guilty to the knife offence on the day he was due to stand trial last year.
Sheriff Michael Higgins told him that he would impose a fresh non-custodial sentence but warned him: "This is a turning point for you."
The sheriff said: "You were already offered professional assistance and you didn't take it up.
"If you do not take it this time you can reasonably expect that you won't get a third chance."
As a now direct alternative to a prison term, McCullagh, of Belville Street, must undergo alcohol treatment for 18 months and be under social work supervision during this time.
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