A man who has been described as a “walking breach of the peace” has been fined after he threatened job centre staff.
Kenneth Gray, 54, was unhappy about the service he had received at the Job Centre in the town’s High Street in November 2019, and threatened staff with a hammer.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Gray - who has an unusually loud voice - shouted, swore, uttered threats of violence and acted in an aggressive manner towards two female workers on November 6, 2019.
The procurator fiscal told the court: “Around 11.20am the accused entered the Job Centre and spoke with staff regarding an ongoing issue.
“The accused was behaving in an aggressive and intimidating manner.
“Two staff members took the accused into a side room where he continued this behaviour and began shouting and swearing about how he was unhappy with the service he had received.
“He made statements including, ‘What you f*****g looking at’ and ‘Fix this now or I’ll be back with a hammer.’
“Gray continued this aggressive behaviour and the staff members raised the alarm and contacted police.
“The accused remained within the facility but left a short time later and was apprehended by police outside on High Street.
“He was cautioned and charged, and made no reply.”
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Defence agent Terry Gallanagh told how Gray made his voice seem “mouse-like”
Mr Gallanagh said: “Mr Gray has been cursed by a loud voice. He is a walking breach of the peace because when he says something, he always shouts it.
“He has a very low threshold before expletives come out of his mouth but those who know him know he often doesn’t mean anything of it.
“He has a massive and good heart as he cared for his disabled brother for a number of years before he was taken into care.
“He accepts responsibility and following the incident returned to the centre to apologise to the two ladies and as a result there is now a system in place where he chaps the door and doesn’t enter the building when he attends.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Gillian Craig said: “ I think you accept what you said that day would put any reasonable person under fear or alarm.
“Threatening to return with a hammer is something no person experience in their employment.
“That is an alarming phrase to say.”
Sheriff Craig fined Gray, of Kilearn Road in the town, £130 to be paid at £10 per fortnight.
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