CONS' TV JUSTICE; Fury as criminals get movies instead of jail EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: By RAYMOND HAINEY

A CONVICT has revealed how he spent his 100 hours community service watching videos and doing quizzes.

The shambolic punishment - meant to be a tough alternative to jail - was exposed yesterday by Andrew McLean, 28.

McLean said: "Iwas ready for hard work but instead I was told to doss about." McLean, who was given the sentence for failing to pay a pounds 300 road offence fine, said bosses at offenders' charity Apex Scotland asked him to do nothing to benefit the community.

Instead he was ordered to:

Watch films about gangland hoodlum Paul Ferris.

Take part in pub-style quizzes about football.

Hold meaningless debates about Scottish law.

Watch a television programme showing how to inject heroin.

McLean, of Yoker, Glasgow, said: "The whole thing was a joke and the people organising it knew it.

"I had to watch a documentary called Ibogaine about a drug they use in Africa for addiction therapy.

"One scene was a demonstration of how to cook up heroin before injecting it into the neck.

"One girl who was there for not paying fines for not having a TV licence couldn't bear to watch - it was very graphic.

"I don't drink, never mind take drugs, so I just found myself asking what the point was.

"Then we had to watch a documentary about gangsters like Paul Ferris and Arthur Thompson.

"I couldn't see the relevance of it at all. The whole thing was like a criminal workshop, really.

"Then we had a quiz when we were asked questions about football teams' nicknames.

"I haven't been of any use to the community. I would rather have been doing something useful like gardening or tidying up public parks."

McLean added he did not leave Apex's HQ in Hope Street, Glasgow, once during community service.

Apex are given taxpayers' cash to run community service for offenders in Glasgow, Ayrshire and elsewhere.

A senior legal source said last night: "If Apex are unable to make community service work in a meaningful way they should be flagging it up.

"We may need a system run by retired police officers or those with knowledge of offenders rather than charity workers."

McLean was given 100 hours' community service in May 2007 over his failure to pay a fine for driving without insurance. He did not start the sentence until March.

Another offender, who asked not to be named, said: "The people on the course were basically having a laugh about how ridiculous it is.

"It's a far cry from being out painting fences and picking up litter, which is what I thought we would be doing."

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "This sounds like no kind of penalty. For community sentences to work they need to be tough alternatives to prison."

Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "When offenders feel the need to speak out that the punishment isn't fitting the crime, it shows what an appalling mess our criminal justice system is in."

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said: "We are looking to expand community penalties and we would expect them to be of value to the community."

Apex acting deputy director Aileen Macdonald was unable to respond to McLean's claims and did not return later calls.

I turned up to do my time but got stuck in front of a video about Paul Ferris.. it was a joke - Andrew McLean yesterday

CAPTION(S):

Video: Paul Ferris; Boot camp: Model Naomi Campbell turns up to sweep streets in New York