A VALE man tried to smash a van window with a rock while the driver sat inside – as families and children passed nearby.

Mark Needham attacked the vehicle in broad daylight on a tow path near Ferryfield Gardens in Alexandria on July 22.

The 39-year-old, of Colquhoun Drive, was sentenced at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property.

Martina McGuigan, prosecuting, told the court: “At about 12 noon a witness was driving a van which was blocked in by the accused.

“The witness knows the accused through prior dealings with him.

“The accused was shouting and bawling towards the witness, using phrases including “dirty b*****d”.

“There were families and children cycling on the path at the time.

“The accused then approached the driver’s door and struck the window with the rock he was holding. The witness was able to drive past at that point, and then contacted police.”

Needham had also pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to a further charge of shouting, swearing, uttering abusive remarks and threatening violence towards his former partner near a property in Alexandria’s Main Street on August 9.

“The witness was terrified at this,” Ms McGuigan added.

Needham’s solicitor said his client accepted his guilt in respect of all three charge.

Sheriff William Gallacher agreed to defer sentence until early March for that assessment to be carried out, and Needham’s bail was continued until then for him to be of good behaviour.