A GREENOCK man has admitted being in possession of two offensive weapons in the town – but he will not face any further sentence due to the time he has already spent on remand.

Shaun Gallacher, 32, was due to stand trial before a jury at Greenock Sheriff Court, but offered a plea of guilty to two indictment charges.

He admitted being in possession of a baseball bat and a bladed item without reasonable excuse on Cathcart Street on February 10 last year.

Gallacher was also charged with assaulting a man to his severe injury and danger of life by striking him on the body with a knife at the same location, but his plea of not guilty was accepted by the Crown.

It had been alleged that he carried out the attack along with 44-year-old James McCaig, whose not guilty plea was also accepted.

Cathcart StreetCathcart Street (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard that police has attended Cathcart Street at around 2:50pm following reports of a disturbance.

Upon their arrival, officers made enquires in relation to CCTV footage.

Fiscal depute Dana Barclay said: “The accused can be seen at the locus wearing a black balaclava, brandishing what appeared to be a baseball bat.

“In his other hand, he also appeared to have some kind of bladed article.

“There appears to be some kind of verbal altercation between parties at the locus.

“The accused was traced and arrested that day.

“Due to his demeanour, no interview was conducted.”

Defence solicitor Amy Spencer told the court that Gallacher had spent 10 months on remand between February and December last year while awaiting trial.

Ms Spencer said: “He was under the influence of substances. It appears to be a pattern in his life that when he’s under the influence, he behaves in this way.

“He can offer little insight in to that other than he was going through a bad time.

“He had resorted to substances to manage that. He found himself to be in possession of those items.”

(Image: Newsquest)

The court heard that Gallacher, who is currently in custody at HMP Barlinnie, had to attend hospital after the incident, and underwent surgery for severed tendons in his hand.

He was also treated for a wound on his back which he ‘believed to be a stab wound’.

Ms Spencer added: “He recognises that had he not elected to take substances, he would never have found himself in a situation like this.”

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan noted that the period Gallacher had spent on remand in relation to this matter amounted to a custodial sentence of 20 months.

He said: “Those offences, when committed by a person with your record, would normally attract freestanding prison sentence.

“Having spent ten months in custody, and in all the circumstances, you will be admonished on these matters.”