A YOUNGSTER who was home alone dialled 999 and alerted police after his babysitter ended up in the pub.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how the seven-year-old was tearful when he told them that he only had his pets for company.

Officers went to the property and were able to re-assure the schoolboy before one of them climbed in through a window and comforted him.

It was a hour later before John Kerr returned under the influence of alcohol and tried to explain that he had only gone for food for the child.

He later conceded he had visited a bar and had stayed away longer than he first intended.

He had left the boy in his bedroom playing computer games last November.

In court, Kerr, 50 admitted wilfully abandoning the youngster at the property in the town, when he should have been in his care, in a manner that was likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Defence agent Jonathan Manson said that Kerr, of Paisley, had been looking after the boy on behalf of the child's mother and had asked him what he wanted to eat before going out but ended up in the pub.

Mr Manson said that the accused had been under stress at the time as his former employment had come to an end.

He was not working at present.

After considering submissions, Sheriff Tom McCartney fined Kerr £280, reduced from £400 due to his early guilty plea, and ordered him to pay the financial penalty within 28 days.