PLAIN clothes police officers detained a man who sprayed a wall with the words "Irish c***s" in a late night act of vandalism.

And when they apprehended him, the officers later traced a bag belonging to the accused which contained an axe.

John Ferguson, 58, of Halkett Crescent, Alexandria, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, February 21 for sentencing.

He previously admitted that, on May 7 2015, at the canal bank near to India Street, he did maliciously spray a wall.

Ferguson further admitted being in possession of an article which had a sharply pointed blade, namely an axe, at the same location and elsewhere, on the same morning.

Sentence was deferred for a psychiatric report.

At the earlier hearing Fiscal depute Isobel Martin outlined the circumstances of the offences.

She said: "It was 3am and officers in plain clothes near to a path saw the accused walking along.

"He approached a wall and began spraying something on the wall.

"They stopped him and a slogan had been sprayed on the wall- Irish c***s.

"When they were dealing with him he said he brought a bike with him but left it out of sight, along the river path along with his bag, a short distance along.

"They (police officers) could see it and some items seized within the bag included an axe, with a wooden handle."

Ms Martin told the court that the accused was "not fit" for interview due to his mental state at that time.

Ferguson's defence agent told the court that the accused's sister attended every interview with him in the lead-up to the case going to court and she had been of "considerable assistance."

The court was also told that Ferguson's sister was concerned about her brother's mental state as he had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression for "some time."

Ferguson's defence solicitor said his client's actions, at that time of the morning were "bizarre" and that he had tried to get some "logical explanation" to the offence but could not get one, adding "It's no easy task."

The court was also told that within the bag which containing the axe, Ferguson had 22 glass bottles and the defence solicitor was trying to "ascertain what he was thinking."

The solicitor said: "He says it was for recycling but not at that time of the morning.

"I also understand that he would regularly go to the woods and chop wood."

Ferguson's fixation with chopping wood and taking it home came so severe that it was considered a fire hazard.

Mr McGuire said: "Once this came to light for the social work and local authority there was so much firewood that it was deemed a fire hazard.

"As a result there were a number of vans required to come and take it away.

"It was a habit of his to go into the woods and chop some wood."

Ferguson had embarked on a de-tox programme and that he'd quit drinking too.

When the case returned to court last week defence solicitor Brian McGuire stated to Sheriff Simon Pender: "This is the only case that he has outstanding.

"What I would be asking for is for you to consider making him subject to a Community Payback Order.

"He's complied with a previous order."

He added: "His sister is with him today, as she has been in all his appearances, and she's been of considerable support.

"It's her view that he'd get considerable benefit from a Community Payback Order as it would put him on the right direction and keep him on the straight and narrow.

"He's complied with previous CPO's and all the indications are that he would do so again."

Sheriff Simon Pender said: "In view of everything I am prepared to deal with this by way of a Community Payback Order."

Ferguson was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next 10 months.

In addition he will be subject to a supervision order for the next 18 months.