A DUMBARTON man has been warned to change his ways or he’ll face more than a year in jail.

Ronnie Parry, of Eastfield Crescent, has been put under the supervision of social workers and ordered to behave after pleading guilty to making threats in College Street and Asda in Dumbarton.

The 36-year-old was in Asda on October 11 around 12.45am and appeared to be drunk as he made his way towards the store’s kiosk.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week was told Parry began to empty his pockets on to the counter, including keys, a pen and a pipe cutting tool.

Fiscal depute Martina McGuigan said: “He was asked several times to put the items back in his pocket and at that point he picked up the pipe cutter and said, ‘You’re on a power trip because you’re a manager here. Just you wait until I see you outside.’ “Police were contacted. He put items back in his pocket and left the store.”

When police caught up with Parry, he said to them: “Is this about the Asda thing?”

Parry was on two bail orders from Dumbarton and one from Glasgow at the time of offences. He admitted causing fear and alarm and making threats, and to brandishing a pipe tool.

On June 1 this year, Parry confronted two painters and decorators in College Street, shouting and swearing at the men.

He told one of them: “I will come back here tomorrow and take your face off. I will take your money off you and take your tools off you.”

At Clydebank police office later, he was found with 0.38g of heroin.

Defence solicitor Scott Adair said there was a background of drug addiction and he had not dealt with it appropriately.

Sheriff William Gallacher said: “If this court exists for any purpose, it must surely be to find protection for the public. If I have a duty to anybody, is it not surely for the public?”

Mr Adair replied that Parry had received no support for his difficulties.

He said: “It’s those difficulties causing him to act in this way. His is not the worst of records. He has never been in custody before.”

Mr Adair added that a jail sentence wouldn’t be long enough to get Parry any services to treat the addiction problems, nor would he get any on his release.

Sheriff Gallacher said he was persuaded “by the closest of calls” to put Parry under supervision for 18 months, with a particular requirement to take any mental health or drug abuse support directed by social workers.

His case will be reviewed on February 14, 2018 and he must also be of good behaviour.

Sheriff Gallacher said any further offences would lead to 16 months in jail.