AN ALEXANDRIA man who ran from police in fear they were coming for him was later arrested for vandalising a close door in his bid to escape them.

Jamie Wilson sprinted away from passing officers who began to pursue him due to his suspicious actions on Renton's Main Street on November 12, 2015.

The 22-year-old, who feared the police had a warrant for his arrest, fled into a close which officers were unable to enter due to the secure entry system.

However, he was viewed kicking glass panes in the rear doorway in an attempt to flee through the back.

Depute fiscal Emma Thomson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court on July 5, Wilson, of North Street, caused £200 worth of damage to the property by kicking two panes of glass and the frame of the door, which he eventually managed to escape through.

He was apprehended at the rear of the property and later pleaded guilty to the vandalism.

His defence solicitor, Roddy Boag, told the court: "He's got a bad record that starts when he's 16 and goes right through.

"He explained to us he had difficulty staying in the house he was staying in because of the amount of behaviour that was going on there that was inappropriate.

"He and his mother moved away completely and had gone to Northern Ireland. He had a relationship with a young lady and there's a child."

Mr Boag said his client had remained otherwise out of trouble and had stopped using drugs, although there was the "occasional social use of alcohol".

He added: "He's done things through his own choices to manage to stay out of trouble and find some roots."

Sheriff John Hamilton said that Wilson's circumstances "appeared to have changed" and planned to support the improvement if he could – but added the court still had to "mark" the offence.

He sentenced Wilson to 120 hours of unpaid work to be completed within nine months and to repay the £200 damage.

Sheriff Hamilton also stated the order could be transferred to Northern Ireland if Wilson planned to return to his partner and child.