A young man who was so under the influence of drugs that he could not remember to attend court-ordered appointments has been given one last chance to avoid detention.
Scott Wheeler, 17, of Brownhill Place, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday and admitted breaching an order.
Wheeler was sentenced to the community payback order after being convicted of brandishing a knife at three women during an incident on June 30 2012.
His defence solicitor Ian Houston told the court he had originally been doing well on the order, but then went off the rails and smoked so much cannabis he forgot about his appointments.
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro told him his cannabis use had got out of control, but she would let him try again to escape prison if he gives up the drug and lives with his mother.
She said: “I’m giving you one last chance because I am desperate not to send you to prison. I don’t think prison does any good for a 17-year-old and I don’t know if it does society any good.”
She said the added conditions of a curfew and order banning him from using cannabis, were designed to test his resolve.
A further two deferred sentences for twice breaching curfew and throwing a stone through a window will be considered when Wheeler’s order comes up for review on June 30.