A FARM worker has been jailed for slashing his former employer’s hay bales in a revenge attack after he was sacked.

William Finlay, 33, went to Foreside Farm, in Neilston, and wrecked 44 bales of pre-packaged haylage – wet fermented grass which can be eaten by animals during winter.

He was banned from going to the farm at the time of the offence due to a bail condition imposed after he had hounded his former employers.

READ MORE: Hay bales attack leaves Neilston farm worker facing prison

Finlay denied being responsible for the sabotage, which left Bozena Bienkowska more than £5,000 out of pocket.

But he had left an empty pouch of tobacco and can of juice at the scene, as well as a fingerprint on one of the bales.

And the clues led to Neilston man Finlay being convicted over the vandalism following a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Farm owner Miss Bienkowska, 52, told his trial the vandalism was discovered on the morning of September 2, 2017.

Defence solicitor Amy Spencer asked Sheriff Colin Pettigrew to acquit Finlay of the two charges he faced – breaching bail conditions by entering the farm while banned from being there and maliciously damaging the bales.

The lawyer said it could be coincidence that the brand of tobacco he smoked and type of juice he drank was found at the scene and said the fingerprint could have been on the bale wrapping from when he worked there.

However, Sheriff Pettigrew said: “I’m in no doubt the case is proved beyond reasonable doubt.”

When Finlay returned to the dock on Friday, he was ordered to spend eight months behind bars.

Sheriff Pettigrew told Finlay: “This was a serious and malicious offence.”