A VALE labourer who threatened police officers with violence has escaped a jail sentence.

Patrick McColl, 38, of Main Street, Jamestown, pleaded guilty to the charge at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday.

The court heard that McColl, a labourer with Ocean Terminal, Argyll, committed the offence on September 28 last year at his home and within the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley.

Prosecutor Emma Thomson told the court how he behaved in a threatening or abusing manner likely to cause a reasonable person to be put into a state of fear or alarm.

He was repeatedly shouting and swearing and behaving in an aggressive manner towards police officers.

The fiscal explained that even after being taken to the RAH, McColl continued to shout and swear and made threats of violence towards the officers and made abusive and offensive remarks to them.

Ms Thomson said: “It happened at 12.30pm when police were on mobile patrol and had reason to go to McColl’s home.

“He became aggressive and threatening and his conduct continued throughout.”

Defence lawyer Brian McGuire said: “He is single and lives with his mother. He was at a considerable low at his time and had taken some drugs. He has since found employment and it is his first job since 2004.”

Sheriff John Hamilton put McColl on a community payback order with 12 months’ social work supervision.

He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and was told to carry out the work within nine months.