A north-east criminal has won a fight to be sent to jail in the hope of helping him beat alcoholism and become a better father.
David Martin appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court on Tuesday, when he begged Sheriff Kevin Drummond to lock him up after breaching a community payback order.
The 39-year-old, formerly of St Andrews Drive in Fraserburgh, was handed the order in 2017 after breaking into a home and assaulting a woman last February.
On the same day, he was found carrying an offensive weapon and when he was detained by police he refused to leave his cell for an interview or to have fingerprints taken.
At Tuesday’s hearing, he sat in the dock alongside a duffel bag.
And in bizarre fashion, instead of fighting the charges against him, he instructed both his solicitor Sam Milligan and Sheriff Drummond to find a way to have him sent to prison.
“My wife is pregnant,” he said.
“I want this over and done with, sir. I just want it dealt with.
“This is the only way my life is going to be sorted.
“I want a fresh start before my child arrives and this is the only chance I’ve got. I want to come out with a straight head.
“If I go in today, I’ll see the doctor tomorrow and he’ll give me something for my drinking problem.
“I can’t start a new life with a baby coming still on the drink – they deserve better than that.”
Sheriff Drummond made clear he was hesitant about sending Martin “up the road”.
“I’m looking for any way to avoid it,” he said.
“I’m trying to figure out how long to put you in there and not a day more than you have to be.
“It is my understanding that people can sometimes be refused access to the treatment programmes if they are short-term prisoners.
“Also, some times some people’s anxiety to get inside can be a cause for concern.”
Eventually he did however hand him a five-month prison sentence.
Mr Milligan underlined that Martin was adamant about being locked up.
He said: “Mr Martin would prefer that matters are dealt with today in a fashion that brings matters to an end.
“He accepts that leaves but one option.
“It’s the last thing he has hanging over him.”
