article_snippet.sent: As a St Mirren player a St Mirren player was sentenced to 130 hours of unpaid work and handed a one-year supervision order in January 2014 after admitting kicking two officers.
article_snippet.sent: a St Mirren player later kicked another officer on the body while being detained at Coatbridge police station.
article_snippet.sent: Sheriff Derek O'Carroll spared the Dens star a prison sentence after hearing Sheriff Derek O'Carroll had was undergoing counselling through PFA Scotland, the players' union, for a gambling problem in addition to social work sessions.
article_snippet.sent: His solicitor, Liam O'Donnell, told the court that social work reports 'finally give some indication that the accused is getting it in terms of Paul McGowan offending.
article_snippet.sent: an underlying gambling problem seems to be the root of his offending.
article_snippet.sent: When his takes alcohol his anger about the gambling problem seems to come out through aggression.'
article_snippet.sent: O'Donnell revealed the former St Mirren player was undergoing voluntary counselling each week through the Paisley-based RCA Trust, which helps people with alcohol and gambling addictions. '