A BALLOCH man has avoided a prison sentence after a drunken foul-mouthed outburst at his partner – while they were in the company of two children.

William Reid shouted, swore and uttered a threat and offensive remarks in Miller Road and Manse Drive in Haldane on March 9 – but when interviewed by police later that day he denied any abusive behaviour.

Reid, 27, was already serving a community-based punishment on the day of the incident – and was warned by a sheriff last week that he would be sent to jail if he fails to comply with the terms of that previous order over the next two-and-a-half months.

Reid appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on April 25 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner while on bail.

Prosecutor Scott Simpson told the court the group had been walking along Miller Road towards Manse Drive when Reid had shouted “f*** your granny”.

Mr Simpson said: “He continued to follow the complainer and while doing so told her 'eat my s***e'.

“The complainer was very unhappy about this conduct by the accused. She did use the word 'loony' towards him. This seemed to aggravate him.”

Reid, of Haldane Court, shouted further abuse at his partner, who warned him she was going to phone the police, whereupon Reid threatened to go to her home address and kick the door in.

Mr Simpson added: “Police arrived and noted the complainer to be distressed. Police found the accused o nthe pavement further up the road and arrested him and took him to Clydebank police office.

“He spoke frankly during the interviews and told police he was under the influence of alcohol, but denied any abusive behaviour.”

Reid's solicitor, Scott Adair, told the court that a background social work report set out the difficulties his client had encountered with alcohol, and some drug use, over the last 18 months.

Mr Adair said Reid's last two convictions had been dealt with through the imposition of a community payback order, with social work supervision and unpaid hours of work, at the beginning of this year, though the order had had trouble getting under way, partly because of the constraints on unpaid work places within West Dunbartonshire.

Mr Adair said: “My first suggestion would be to continue this matter for three or four months to see how that order progresses.

“That order will look at his issues, and if he's not dealt with them appropriately, the period of time he's going to spend in custody is going to be of a substantial nature.

“I would submit that he hasn't reached the stage where custody is required.”

Sheriff Thomas McCartney told Reid: “When I heard the details of this offence from the procurator fiscal depute, along with your previous convictions, it was very much in my mind that a substantial prison sentence wouild have to be imposed.

“I have been persuaded not to do that today but that's still very much at the forefront of my thinking.”

Reid was told to be of good behaviour until July 10, when a supplementary social work report and an update on the existing community order will be provided for his next court hearing.

The sheriff added: “I will have to see that you have been of good behaviour and have been fully engaging with the order.

“If that is the case it may be that I can consider dealing with this by way of an alternative to prison.

“If the report tells me your engagement is not wholly satisfactory, or that there has been further offending, it will be very clear to me that prison is the only appropriate sentence.”