A drunken man, who re-offended a day after appearing in court, was jailed for seven months.
Paul Cessford had been in court the previous day, when he was found in a drunken state near Asda and Tesco’s Galashiels stores.
The 31-year-old of Queen’s Croft, Kelso, admitted breaching a bail condition not to enter licensed premises or consume alcohol, on October 2.
A till receipt showed he had purchased four bottles of vodka from Asda at 11.10am and was later seen staggering towards Tesco, keeping himself upright by holding on to parked cars.
Cessford admitted failing to comply with a bail condition imposed on May 25, not to enter any licensed premises and to refrain from consuming alcohol, at Currie Road, Galashiels, on October 2.
He also admitted breaching an ASBO prohibiting him from behaving in a drunken or disorderly manner, at Asda and Tesco in Galashiels, on the same date.
Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley said Cessford was seen at about 2pm “very drunk” near Asda.
“He tried to go into the store and was stopped by a member of staff,” explained Ms Bradley. “He was plainly very drunk, and staggered off.”
He was then seen by police “staggering towards Tesco, keeping himself upright by holding on to parked cars. A till receipt was found, showing that he had purchased four bottles of vodka at 11.10am, in Asda,” continued Ms Bradley.
“He had only appeared in court the previous day, and was released on bail,” she added.
On January 23, Cessford admitted breaching an ASBO when he was found drunk and unconscious at Inch Park, Kelso.
“At 3.30pm, he was seen lying unconscious and in a drunken state, against a garden wall,” said Ms Bradley.
“A lady, concerned for his well-being, called an ambulance, and he was taken to Borders General Hospital very drunk and semi-conscious”, she added.
Cessford also admitted breaching an ASBO when heavily intoxicated and unconscious at Channel Street, Galahsiels, on May 1.
He was again taken to Borders General Hospital by ambulance, and later released.
On May 24, Cessford admitted stealing alcohol at Tesco, Paton Street, Galashiels, while on bail and an ASBO.
“The alcohol, worth £12, was fully recovered,” said Ms Bradley.
“At 8.30pm, he went into the supermarket and lifted a bottle of alcohol, with a security tag on, and was stopped on his way out of the shop,” she explained.
Cessford also admitted stealing two bottles of spirits at Sainsbury’s, Pinnacle Hill Industrial Estate, Kelso, on June 30, and breaching a condition not to enter licensed premises.
“The alcohol, worth £19.72, was recovered,” said Ms Bradley.
“At 3.20pm, he walked into the store and took two bottles of spirits, put one in his pocket, and tried to leave,” she explained.
Defence solicitor Iain Burke said his client’s “chronic problem with alcohol” had led to a “litany of disasters”.
“Since last October, he had been doing quite well, and had abstained for about three months,” explained Mr Burke.
He continued: “On January 27 he met up with an old drinking buddy and started back on a downward spiral.
“He has gone through a forced detox while in custody.
“He is more of a nuisance to the public, than a danger but is a danger to himself because of his chronic alcohol problem.
“All this offending relates to the chronic problem he has.”
Sheriff Jamie Gilmour warned Cessford: “It appears to me that you are effectively drinking yourself to death.
“The court has no alternative, but to impose a custodial sentence.”
The seven-month jail term was back-dated to October 3 when Cessford was held in custody.