TWO schoolgirls turned to the police following a “scary” encounter with an Old Kilpatrick man on a train station platform.

David Gordon, 48, who lives at an address in Thistleneuk, asked the teenagers if they thought he was “a lunatic” during the incident on July 4 this year.

Procurator fiscal depute Isobel Martin told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: “The girls were in the shelter at Old Kilpatrick station on platform 1, waiting on a train which was due to arrive. Both girls were aware of a male entering the station and crossing the bridge onto the platform.” Part of the incident was witnessed by a woman who recognised Gordon. The court was told that she was also within the shelter when Gordon entered. She recognised the accused and noticed that he was about to light a cigarette up but at that point she left the shelter to make a phone call.

Gordon then started talking to the two teenagers and put his foot up on the bench they were sitting on as he rolled a cigarette. They could both smell alcohol from him.

The fiscal depute continued: “He then asked them ‘do you believe in God, do you go to church or chapel?’. One of the girls said no and he called her a name before pushing her upper right arm, saying ‘I’m only joking’”.

The court was told that Gordon then complemented the girl on a freckle on her face before asking both of them if they thought he was a lunatic.

One of the girls looked away and said no, at which point Gordon waved his hand in front of her face and said, “look in my eyes, am I a lunatic?” The two teenagers felt intimidated by Gordon’s behaviour and when his phone rang they moved over towards the woman who had left the shelter.

She then heard one of the girls say: “That was so scary”.

However, Gordon then approached them again as the train was coming into the station and made more comments including: “I’m going to die tonight”.

She noticed that the two girls were getting upset, and called him by his name to which he replied, “I’ll involve you in this too”.

The two girls boarded a different carriage of the train from Gordon and when it arrived at Glasgow Queen Street station they reported the matter to British Transport Police. The incident had been captured on CCTV and Gordon was traced a few days later at his home address.

A discussion between Sheriff Gerard MacMillan and defence solicitor Brian McGuire revealed that according to a social work report available to the court, Gordon was unwilling to accept a community payback order being imposed by the court.

The sheriff told the solicitor: “I don’t think he has any idea of how serious this is.” The solicitor revealed that after discussing the possibility of a community disposal with Gordon his client’s position had changed.

He said: “I had to explain that supervision was the equivalent of, what was in the old days, probation.” The sheriff warned Gordon that he could be facing jail, adding: “I hope you now get the gist. This was utterly, utterly appalling behaviour. Believe you me, your attitude better change and you better be full of apologies for what you put these girls through.” The matter was further deferred until December 2 to allow for a supplementary criminal justice social work report to be carried out.