A REPEAT offender from Irvine has avoided jail following his latest conviction.
William Rourke has been given a chance to stay on the right path after Kilmarnock Sheriff Court was told he used a previous prison sentence to tackle his addiction issues.
The 44-year-old returned to the dock earlier this week having previously pleaded guilty to a pair of charges in relation to incidents on his home street of McKinlay Crescent.
He admitted that, on October 11 last year, he had an offensive weapon with him - namely a piece of wood.
Rourke also behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive way towards police officers.
He pleaded guilty to the offences during a hearing at the end of June this year.
Defending, solicitor Peter Murray explained that Rourke was weeks away from being released from a 13-month prison sentence at this time.
"Significant efforts were made in custody to move away from his addiction issues," the lawyer said. "So the matter was deferred for reports at that time."
Rourke returned to the dock with these now available. Mr Murray noted that these were in "fairly positive terms".
He added: "Since his liberation there has been no further offending, he has continued on the same path adopted in prison.
"He has continued to engage with addiction services and remains drug free.
"He would be prepared to continue in the manner he has and be supported in the community."
The solicitor asked Sheriff Morag Fraser to consider stepping away from a further prison term on these grounds.
However, Mr Murray admitted that Rourke has a record "that would have allowed a custodial sentence".
Sheriff Fraser agreed but imposed a community payback order as a direct alternative to custody.
This will see Rourke placed under social work supervision for a period of 12 months.
He will also be subject to a restriction of movement requirement, requiring him to remain within his home address between 7pm and 7am each day, for the next 18 weeks.
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