Sentence of 267 days for heroin addict who wanted back to prison

A heroin addict who hatched a plan to get back into prison after being released early from custody was sentenced to 267 days in jail.

Aberdeen prisoner John Gibson, 33, struggled to cope when he was released from Craiginches prison in Aberdeen on 31st December.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that he devised a plan to commit a minor misdemeanour to get himself back behind bars.

Gibson, a long-term drug user, took alcohol and diazepam which led to him suffering blackouts.

He tried to break into Grantfield Garage with intent to steal on 4th April. The following day he broke into council offices and stole a computer memory stick.

He committed a breach of the peace at the Gilbert Bain Hospital car park before struggling violently with police.

Taken to the station, he then told officers he would burn their wives and children and punch their faces.

He claimed he was carrying the hepatitis C virus and threatened to spit on officers who tried to control him.

Defence agent Matthew Harding said Gibson had “conceived a plan to have himself admitted back into custody” after fearing he was becoming a danger to himself and other people, particularly his partner.

His intention was to carry out “some sort of minor offence”, but he took alcohol and diazepam, which led to him suffering from blackouts.

Mr Harding said there was “a degree of unpleasantness” to the comments Gibson had made to police, but he insisted the threats were “completely idle”.

He admitted Gibson had suffered from a drugs problem since his teenage years, but had been on a fairly arduous detox since being held in remand.

He said his client wanted to re-establish contact with the drug and alcohol services in Lerwick.

“The only issue is when he will be able to do these things. He is realistic enough to realise the most likely outcome is one of custody,” said Mr Harding.

He added Gibson had benefited from being in custody, and was now hoping to regain his liberty as soon as possible.

Sheriff Napier sentenced him to 196 days on top of the 71 days he would have served had he not been released early.

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