A VALE man who head-butted a police officer in a Jamestown street has been told his punishment will be limited to a fine if he can stay out of trouble for the next six months.

Brian Hutton attacked the officer in Main Street on November 23.

The 34-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after admitting charges of assaulting police and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and waving his arms.

Fiscal depute Martina McGuigan told the court two police officers who were told to go to the scene at 4.25am had immediately become concerned about Hutton's demeanour.

Ms McGuigan said: “They tried to calm him down and speak with him. He unexpectedly threw his head forward and struck one of the constables to the left side of his mouth, which caused some bleeding and swelling.

“At that point the accused threw himself to the ground and shouted 'don't kill me'.”

Hutton's erratic behaviour saw him taken to hospital to be assessed before he was cautioned and charged.

A background report from social workers on the Murroch Crescent resident was sought prior to Friday's hearing.

Hutton's solicitor, Roddy Boag, told the court there were “a number of issued flagged” in the social work report.

Mr Boag said: “The issues in the report are being addressed by the accused and others.”

Mr Boag said that while he would normally try to persuade the court to impose a community payback order for offences of this type, he would instead try to persuade the sheriff to defer sentence for a spell to allow Hutton to show the incident was a one-off.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry agreed with Mr Boag's suggestion, and told Hutton to come back to court in six months' time.

The sheriff said: “I accept there were unusual circumstances.

“What I do in the next six months will be influenced by whether you have complied. If you behave and take the help you are taking at the moment I could be persuaded to deal with this by way of a financial penalty.”

An updated social work report will be provided prior to Hutton's next court appearance, on January 17, 2018.