A man who was caught up in riots at HMP Grampian has avoided going back behind bars.
Leslie McCarthy had been an inmate at the “super jail” in May 2014 when rioters took over the Ellon wing of the multi-million pound facility and barricaded themselves in.
McCarthy, who has since been released from prison, appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing after he previously admitted being involved in the incident before a trial last year.
The 46-year-old, of Urquhart Road, Aberdeen, was represented by defence agent Gail Wiggins.
She said McCarthy, who has mental health struggles, had been “carried along” by peers into damaging windows in the early moments of the riot.
However she said he had later attempted to bring down the barricade to stop events from progressing.
“Things then rolled out of control,” Ms Wiggins added.
“He gets carried along with everyone else.
“In the background to this, Mr McCarthy was serving a sentence and he discovered his wife was being unfaithful. He was struggling to cope within the environment he was in.
“He is looking forward to a life of not having to come to court. He is asking my lord to give him that chance.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to a serious offence.
“I accept that your own involvement was focused on the early part of the incident. In your case there are exceptional circumstances which would justify a non-custodial sentence.”
McCarthy’s was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and placed under supervision for 12-months.
HMP Grampian was under siege for 15 hours during the riot before officers entered and use Pava spray on prisoners.
