A BALLOCH man has been told by a sheriff that he has come as close to a prison sentence as anyone could possibly have done.

David Nicholson, 45, of Simpson Quadrant, escaped a jail term after pleading guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to wilfully and recklessly damaging a car in the street outside his home by striking it repeatedly with a metal pole.

Nicholson also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing at police officers, uttering threats of violence and behaving in an aggressive manner. The offence happened both in Simpson Quadrant and in the police car on the way to Clydebank Police Office.

Prosecutor Craig Wainwright said: “At 5.30pm on October 26 Nicholson was seen on CCTV striking a vehicle in Alexandria with a large metal pole.

“Police arrived and saw the red Rover car extensively damaged, with all of the windows smashed. Nicholson was sitting nearby with the police alongside.”

Mr Wainwright told the court Nicholson was arrested, cautioned and charged but then told the officers “f**k off, I’m going to murder you, f****** come on then”.

“He was taken by police car to Clydebank Police Office,” Mr Wainwright continued, “and en route threatened to kill the officers and their families.

“The car belonged to one of Nicholson’s neighbours. There was £800 worth of damage done.”

Defence lawyer Brian McGuire said of Nicholson: “He acknowledges his behaviour on this day was out of order and it was far from impressive what he said to the officers.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry, sentencing Nicholson, told him: “You have come as close to going to prison as it is humanly possible to do so. Your behaviour was utterly atrocious and intolerable.

“Police officers were doing their duty and should not have been subjected to such comments and threats. The door to prison is open for you, and any repetition and you will go through it.”

Nicholson was put under social work supervision until June 2019 and told he must attend alcohol counselling as directed by his supervisor.

He must also carry out 160 hours of unpaid community work within nine months and pay compensation of £800 to the owner of the damaged car.