A MAN caught with a knife in a Dumbarton garden has been jailed for more than two years.

Robert McLeish previously pleaded guilty to having the kitchen knife with a five-inch blade at the property in Ardoch Crescent, at around 5am on November 8 last year.

The 22-year-old, listed in court papers as a prisoner in Greenock, returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week knowing a jail term was inevitable.

Defence solicitor Brian McGuire said his client had had his difficulties in life and a lack of stability.

He was previously released from detention in September 2016 and had moved to Dumbarton from Paisley to get away from bad influences.

Mr McGuire said: “It’s unfortunate this situation has come about. In the early hours of the morning he had returned home. He had the house keys in his possession but appeared to have lost them and was banging on the door to get in.

“There was only one set of keys so [his partner] couldn’t let him in.”

Police then arrived and found McLeish with the blade.

Mr McGuire continued: “He is responsible for his actions. He is kicking himself for having got into this situation. He brought this on himself. For some considerable time, when residing in Dumbarton, he was not offending.”

Sheriff William Gallacher pointed to the legislation against carrying knives being written specifically to protect the community from the dangers of weapons.

He said: “It’s necessary to ensure the protection of the public.”

McLeish was jailed for 27 months, backdated to November 9 when he was taken into custody. On release, he will be supervised for a further nine months.