A GANGSTER claimed he could not do unpaid work as part of a strict court order because social workers were hiring out the criminals to local farmers for labour and keeping the proceeds, a court heard.
Mark Quigley, 26, was placed on Community Payback Orders for two cases including a violent assault but he refused to engage fully with the orders and found himself back in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced for breaching them.
Defence solicitor Stephen Grady said Quigley stated he had refused work amid claims he and other criminals were effectively being sold by people who set up placements as part of Community Payback Orders.
The lawyer explained: “Those involved in organising the unpaid work placements were taking men out to farms and being paid by the owners of these farms for, effectively, cheap labour.
“Mr Quigley made a complaint about that. He advises me both men have been sacked as a result and that it is local knowledge. He was not prepared to be part of this man’s money-making enterprise with people who are supposed to be serving sentences. There is a very real threat to his life and existence at this time.”
But, following complaints, Renfrewshire Council conducted a full inquiry and found no evidence of the scam.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “This information previously came to our attention in September 2015, resulting in an investigation which was carried out in line with council policy.
“The historical allegations made in court today were not substantiated by the investigation conducted at that time. Monitoring processes are in place to ensure unpaid work is carried out as required.
Sheriff Tom McCartney instead placed Quigley on a Restriction of Liberty Order, a form of house arrest, as a direct alternative to a period of imprisonment.
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