Cumnock pensioner Alex back in court a day later.

Jul 23 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A PENSIONER caused havoc in public toilets hours after being released from prison.

Alexander Duncan, who has 75 previous convictions for breaches of the peace, assured Ayr Sheriff Court he would behave himself when he was released from remand on Wednesday morning.

And when Reliance officers told him to go straight home and change out of Bowhouse clothing marked ‘HMP’, he said he would.

But 71-year-old Duncan went straight to the pub and was arrested a few hours later – still wearing his prison gear.

Duncan had been placed on probation for a breach of the peace on Wednesday morning.

When he was being taken downstairs to be released, he shouted out to Sheriff Donald Cork that he wouldn’t let him down.

A few hours later, Duncan was arrested in the toilets of Marks and Spencer in Ayr High Street after staff discovered him in there intoxicated.

He went on to shout and swear at staff and then at ambulance personnel.

After a night in the cells at Ayr police office, Duncan was back before Sheriff Cork on Thursday morning.

He pleaded guilty to his 76th breach of the peace.

His defence lawyer, Peter Lockhart, said: “He must have appeared in every court in the land.”

Sheriff Cork added: “More specifically, he appeared in this court yesterday.”

Mr Lockhart continued: “He had been in custody pending sentence and didn’t expect to be released.

“I gather he was over the moon and personally thanked your lordship and said he wouldn’t let you down.

“He had to be released in prison clothing and was warned by Reliance guards that it wasn’t a good idea to be walking around the streets with ‘HMP’ on his jumper.

“Unfortunately, he was so delighted to be released he went straight to the pub and this incident occurred in Marks and Spencer.”

Sheriff Cork deferred sentenced on Duncan, of Sommerville Street in Cumnock, and remanded him in custody.

And he told him: “I need to get reports because you were on probation – albeit briefly.”

He will be sentenced next month.