A ONE-LEGGED Johnstone man with a horrendous criminal record has been shown mercy by a sheriff after his latest offence.

Barry McInally, 31, has previously been jailed for numerous breaches of the peace and has racked up more than 50 convictions for offences that include breach of bail conditions, assault and attacks on police officers.

He also has drugs convictions and has been convicted of a number of weapons offences – three relating to knives and others that involved an axe, a screwdriver, a brick and a hammer.

McInally found himself back in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court this week after being caught with cannabis resin, worth just £15, in Houstoun Square, Johnstone, on March 12 this year.

After being told that McInally, of Floorsburn Crescent, was already serving a 10-month prison sentence imposed in April for police assault, Sheriff Colin Pettigrew opted to throw him a lifeline.

He admonished and dismissed McInally, meaning the matter shows on his record of previous convictions but he receives no fresh punishment.

McInally’s not guilty plea to a separate charge of being so drunk in public that he was incapable of taking care of himself was dropped by prosecutors.

It had been claimed that alleged offence took place at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, also on March 12.

In 2015, McInally lost one of his legs after being hit by a train while on a drinking session in the Ayrshire seaside town of Ardrossan.

The incident took place after he had climbed over a barrier at a level crossing near Ardrossan Harbour but he didn’t find out about the tragic consequences until a fortnight later, when he regained consciousness in hospital.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond