A HEAVILY-PREGNANT teenager faces being locked up after a warrant was issued for her arrest for failing to appear at court.

The 17-year-old from Johnstone, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was due to appear in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court this week following claims she and a man 20 years older than her broke into a Paisley flat.

The case against the youngster, and Robert John Docherty, 37, called for the first time in public last week.

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The youngster was also not in attendance then, and Defence Solicitor Advocate Bob Mitchell, appearing on her behalf, explained then: “I phoned her mother and she was able to tell me that she is 31 weeks pregnant and was taken to hospital last night. She was in hospital until 9pm. She was released from hospital but neither me nor her mother have been able to get hold of her this morning.”  

The case was continued until this week to allow the teenager to attend.

But after she was again absent, defence solicitor Mark Chambers explained: “She is not here.

“My information is that she is aware of today’s diet and is also very heavily pregnant but I have no other information to provide the court as to why she is not here today.”

Procurator Fiscal Depute Keri Marshall then asked for a warrant to be issued for failing to attend at court, which was granted by Sheriff James Spy, who told Mr Chambers his client may be invited to attend court rather than arrested and held in custody to appear if she could provide a good reason for her non-attendance.

The teen and Docherty are alleged to have targeted the flat occupied by Alan Bell in Kilnside Road, Paisley, on August 17 this year, breaking into the flat so they could rob the property.

At last week’s hearing, when a trial against Docherty was set for January, Defence Solicitor Advocate Alastair Gray, representing him, said the trial would last around two days.

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He added: “The fact the security of the locus was overcome is not in dispute.

“He denies he broke in to this flat with intent to steal.”

Procurator Fiscal Depute Keri Marshall said: “The difficulty is the reason why they are there [in the flat] not what they are doing there.”