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Bad boy rapper MC Shogun has been slated by a sheriff for trying to “buy his way” out of trouble.

Paisley artist Joseph Herron, 20, appeared at court yesterday after he was arrested at the 02 Academy in Glasgow on Tuesday as he prepared for support US hip hop star Nas.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Herron was lifted by the cops as he arrived at the venue to perform a sound check.

The rapper was remanded in custody and warned he faces jail for repeatedly breaking a court order by not doing hours of unpaid work.

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The accused of Whiteford Road in the town’s Blackhall area stood in the dock where he admitted repeated breaches of the community payback order, handed him for housebreaking and resisting arrest as well as concealing a pair of garden shears, during a break-in on Boxing Day, 2014, in Paisley.

Defence agent Michael McKeown said: “The accused appears in breach of the order. He was remanded in custody overnight.

“I am aware there has been substantial procedure in respect of this matter until today’s date. I am aware that Mr Herron has been given numerous opportunities to complete the community payback order.

“Taking a rational view, he has demonstrated he would be incapable of completing the hours that were imposed on him.

“Clearly, given the procedure, and the opportunities that he has had, it will be uppermost in your lordship’s mind to send him to custody.

“All I can say is I would be hoping to dissuade your lordship from that particular course of action. The offences committed by him were when he was 17 years old.

“He advises me categorically that he has not committed any offences since.”

The lawyer added that Herron, who had established himself as a rising star in the music industry, was lifted on an arrest warrant due to his failure to appear at court.

He said: “I was arrested in respect of a warrant on Tuesday night. He was arrested from the O2 Academy in Glasgow at the time he was carrying out a sound check.

“He was due to appear, when he was placed under arrest, later that evening. And due to that arrest he lost the opportunity, which would have been a significant event in his professional life.”

Mr McKeown added Herron was due to undertake various gigs and concerts in London, including recording a set for Red Bull.

He told how the artist featured in a recent documentary on BBC3, and he was due to undertake a tour sponsored by Channel 4.

He said: “As a consequence of this, his financial position has changed and his position is he could pay a substantial financial payment in respect of this matter and would be willing to offer £2,000.

“The alternative would be his spending 45 days in custody. It has been a long time since he committed this offence. He was very young when he did this. He has not been able to complete the community payback order. He did spent time on remand.”

Mr McKeown said Herron was “fearful” he would be banged up in jail and appealed to the court to grant his freedom.

He added: “Returning him to custody at this point in time would be a retrograde step, reintroducing him to a criminal lifestyle and he would lose commercial opportunities. He is hoping he is not returned to custody. He is fearful if he is, his life may become more chaotic, more difficult for him.

“He is young person who has displayed something of an attitude, but he now understands the problems he has got are all of his own making.”

Herron carried out the housebreaking offence on December 26, 2014, when be broke into the property at Strathmore Avenue in Paisley and stole a laptop, a DIY tool, a quantity of cards and gift vouchers, and other personal possessions.

He also resisted, obstructed and hindered his arrest by struggling with officers and failed to declare he was armed with a pair of garden shears on his person which resulted in the injury to one police officer.

He was handed the court punishment on November 19, 2015, when he was given 12 months supervision, 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 compensation.

However, Sheriff James Spy slated the accused for repeatedly flouting the order by not turning up for his work placements and for dodging court appearances.

He said: “You did not turn up for court hearings, you disappear, and months and months later you are arrested on a warrant.

“You cannot buy your way out of this by offering substantial amounts of money.”

He told Herron he would be held in custody for the preparation of backgrounds reports in preparation ahead of sentencing.

He said: “This case will be continued for three weeks and you will be remanded in custody.”

Herron will learn of his punishment when appears for sentencing on August 8.

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