Mr Esslemont, who is now bankrupt and “all but bed-bound”, was handed 300 hours of unpaid work by Sheriff Morag McLaughlin. Aberdeen City Council typically assigns tasks such as litter picking, gardening, or snow clearing to those sentenced to unpaid work, but Mr Esslemont is likely to be assigned duties such as woodworking tasks.

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership told The Press and Journal:”If an individual can provide medical confirmation of their condition — either acute or chronic— rather than heavy outdoor work we can provide light seated joinery duties in our indoor workshop.”

Mr Esslemont’s sentence includes a 12-month curfew and a requirement for supervision of three years.