A YOUNG man has been told to “grow up” by a sheriff and given a second chance after he admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an Ardrossan hostel.

Stewart McGreavy, who is currently living with the Throughcare Project in Saltcoats, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week where he pled guilty to one charge.

His plea of not guilty to a second charge was accepted.

The court heard that 18-year-old McGreavy had been a resident at Short Stay Hostel in Princes Street for around a month at the time of the incident.

On March 11 two staff members were on duty at the hostel when McGreavy turned up seemingly under the influence of alcohol.

One of the staff members spoke to the teen because he seemed unsteady on his feet and advised him that he was not allowed entry and to come back when he was sober.

McGreavy was then overheard calling the employee a “p****”.

He continued to shout and swear and was heard to shout: “F****** dead man” about the staff member.

Defending McGreavy, solicitor David McPherson said that his client suffered from ADHD and that he had “spent the majority of his life within the care system”.

Mr McPherson also said that McGreavy’s position was that he was not under the influence of alcohol on March 11.

Sheriff Alistair Watson warned McGreavy: “You have a previous conviction but this is your first time before an adult court.

“You could carry on like this or you could do some growing up.

“If you come back before me again I’m going to come down on you really hard. I really hope you grow up.”

McGreavy was fined £200 by the sheriff, reduced from £300, to be paid at a rate of £15 every fortnight.