A CONVICTED robber who targeted a bookmaker's shop in Greenock more than four years ago is still yet to be punished - after the sheriff court heard he is awaiting a heart transplant.

Drug addict Dylan Henderson's deferred indictment sentencing has been pushed back again due to his ill health - and the 25-year-old may not be fit for some potential disposals of the case.

Henderson was originally charged with robbing Betfred on East Crawford Street with his face masked in August 2019.

He was said to have assaulted a male employee by brandishing an unknown item at him before jumping over a counter and demanding money.

Previous court hearings were told that Henderson has severe heart problems due to what had been termed as 'chronic cocaine addiction'.

At the most recent calling of the case, defence solicitor Michael McKeown said: "He has not been in attendance at court for some time due to hospitalisation.

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"This deferred indictment called on October 18, he was in the Royal Alexandra Hospital but a warrant for his arrest was granted.

"He is being treated at the moment for cardiac failure and on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

"He has suffered from organ failure, strokes and heart failure and has spent a significant time in hospital recently."

Mr McKeown said that a previous community payback order imposed in relation to a separate matter was revoked due to Henderson's ill health and substituted for a period of supervision.

Regarding the assault and robbery offence, the lawyer added: "I can obviously see that it has crossed the custody threshold.

"He needs to be abstinent from substances for a year to get a heart transplant and is six months in so far."

Sheriff James Varney said he would give the solicitor 'eight weeks to get this sorted' after noting that it is 'quite a serious and nasty offence' for which custody may be imposed.

The sheriff called for an updated criminal justice social work report and a hospital medical report.

Sentence has been further deferred until January 24.