A man who failed to keep an appointment with social workers for a court-ordered report has been warned he could face prison in future if he fails to comply with their instructions.

Barry Carey, 29, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on July 21 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to placing others in a state of fear and alarm on June 23 by throwing bins on to the road at the town's Ardoch Crescent, shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence and challenging police to fight while he was being taken to Clydebank police station.

Sentence had been deferred for a background report - but the court was told that no report was available because Carey, of Whitecrook Street in Clydebank, had not received any communication from the council's social work department to attend an appointment.

Sheriff William Gallacher said one way to ensure Carey would be available to social workers would be to remand him in custody – but Carey's solicitor, Judith Reid, said such a move would have “a catastrophic effect” on her client, who had secured full-time work .

Ms Reid said her client had not been contacted by social workers to arrange an appointment after his guilty plea, and that he had only got in touch with them the day before the hearing.

That cut little ice with the sheriff, who said he would like to see the Crown prosecute more people who failed to co-operate with social workers.

“Frankly,” the sheriff told Carey, “your record stretches the likelihood of any possibility other than sending you to prison.

“For you not to attend is almost beyond understanding. You will speak to the social worker today; you will make an appointment; and you had better turn up for the report.”