A HOAX 999 caller previously branded a "public nuisance" has escaped a custodial sentence despite previous warnings.

Stephen Paterson is yet to even start the community payback order which he was sentenced to on March 20 but on April 20 he was misusing the public emergency line for another time.

Last month, Sheriff James McDonald, placed Paterson on a community payback order with 18 months supervision and 140 hours of unpaid work.

He is also subject to a conduct requirement to attend alcohol treatment and counselling, not to consume alcohol and is subject to alcohol testing.

Sheriff McDonald told him, "If you continue to offend you will go to prison".

However, on Wednesday Paterson was given another chance.

Paterson has repeatedly landed in Court over the last few years for drunken hoax calls and has been described as a “poor soul”.

Paterson, 41, of Kirkburn Drive, Cardenden, previously admitted that on January 12, at his home address, he did behave in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm, having been granted bail on October 18.

Also, on April 20 at Flockhouse Avenue, Ballingry, he did for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to constables and employees of Police Scotland, make use of a public electronic communications network in that he did repeatedly misuse the 999 emergency line for serious reasons, and did this having been granted bail on January 14.

Defence solicitor, Chris Sneddon, said: "His position is he has not yet had the first appointment of his conduct requirement.

"His submission is that he might benefit from time in custody.

"If he addresses his issues he is likely not to offend."

Sheriff Craig McSherry deferred sentence for six weeks for Paterson to comply with the order and allow him to complete his hours of unpaid work.

His next Court appearance will be June 5.