A JEALOUS Renton man kicked his former partner's car and forced his way into her home during a fit of rage.

Barry McLaughlin returned two days later, throwing stones at the woman's window before making his way into the property for a second time.

The 21-year-old previously pleaded guilty to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and McLaughlin, of Hannah Place, appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week.

Eoin McGinty, fiscal depute, told the court McLaughlin and his victim had been in a relationship but had been separated "for some time" prior to the incident.

At 9pm on July 28 this year, the woman was at home with a friend on Johnstone Road. She looked out the window and saw McLaughlin's car.

Mr McGinty said: "She noticed her door being knocked and, still looking out the window, she saw the accused jumping over the fence in the garden and trying to open the back door.

"The accused climbed up a ledge at the front of the house and looked in the window directly at the complainer.

"She was particularly alarmed by this."

The court heard McLaughlin then left but returned a short time later and forced his way into the property.

Two days later, on July 30, the woman was in bed with her new boyfriend when he woke up at 6.45am with someone throwing stones at the bedroom window.

The fiscal depute said: "The complainer looked out of the window and saw the accused, after which he shouted 'whose car is this', making reference to the vehicle owned by the complainer's new boyfriend.

"The complainer and the boyfriend watched as the accused began to kick at that car."

Hearing a noise, the woman's mother looked outside and was worried McLaughlin might try to damage other cars in the driveway.

McLaughlin's victim went to the front door and tried to get him to leave. He barged in but was quickly ushered out. Police were called and McLaughlin was traced and detained by officers.

Gail Campbell, defending, said that, after the couple had split, there had been a spate of messages back and forth regarding "her new domestic circumstances" but added that it was "no excuse for any subsequent behaviour".

Ms Campbell continued: "His behaviour is unacceptable.

"He has pretty much everything going for him in other aspects of his life.

"He has resurrected his career and given himself new prospects for the future by knuckling down and getting on with it."

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told McLaughlin that prison had been in his mind when considering his sentence and said: "Your behaviour on these dates was utterly unacceptable but given that you had been admitted to bail a few days before and have thereafter committed two offences, one shortly after the other, is almost beyond belief.

"You told the author of your report you were angry. If that is what happens when you get angry, the future is not bright for you.

"There are balancing factors but just, and only just, I am able to avoid sending you to prison."

McLaughlin was ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work within nine months. He was placed under supervision for a year and fined £450.

A non harassment order was imposed, meaning McLaughlin cannot contact or attempt to contact the woman for three years.