A MAN who marked Christmas Day by getting a meat cleaver to threaten a fellow dog walker has been jailed for 16 months.

Scott Wilson, 43, armed himself after a dispute arose over dogs barking at each other in East End Park in Dumbarton.

Wilson, of Crosslet Road, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of the meat cleaver and to assault by shouting, swearing, brandishing the cleaver and uttering threats of violence.

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week, Wilson's defence solicitor said his client was not working at present but had a stable relationship. Wilson has a previous record, which was said to have had a knock-on effect to his work record.

He said: "Mr Wilson is a very keen dog runner. He became involved in a situation with the complainer. He lifted the meat cleaver and took that out. That must have been terrifying for the complainer and he recognises that.

"It is clear he is genuinely remorseful. He reacted in defence of his dog and over-reacted."

Sheriff William Gallacher said a custodial sentence was inevitable for that type of weapon

He said: "This is a case involving possession of a meat cleaver that you sought out ... because you felt aggrieved because of what someone else had done.

"You went out and got it and came back with it and then threatened someone with it. I take account of what was said on your behalf. The other person may have done something but that doesn't excuse you."

Wilson went to East End Park around 12pm last Christmas with his dog on a lead while the other man had his own dog off a lead.

That dog barked at Wilson and his dog as the pairs passed each other, which Wilson "took umbridge" with, and the other man shouted back at the accused.

The man then swung his dog lead at Wilson before continuing on to Crosslet Road.

But Wilson went home, grabbed a meat cleaver and found his dog rival again, brandishing the weapon at him.

The other man tripped and fell back on to the ground and swung his dog lead again to keep Wilson at a distance.

He phoned his daughter who got in her car with her partner and drove to collect the man.

When they did, Wilson again confronted them, shouting at the car. As it was about to leave, Wilson shouted that he was going to "get a team to sort the complainer out".

The man's daughter phoned police at that point. When officers interviewed Wilson, he admitted being in possession of the meat cleaver.