A LOUT who smashed up his cousin’s home in Alexandria while he was visiting them from Yorkshire has been branded “an embarrassment” by a sheriff.

Shaun Deeney trashed the property in Alexander Street last autumn by hitting a TV set with a bottle and by striking and throwing household items, furniture, windows and walls.

The 37-year-old also threw a microwave through a closed kitchen window in the first floor flat and on to the ground below.

Deeney, who lives in Bradford, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after admitting charges of culpable and reckless conduct and wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property.

A background report from the National Probation Service in England was provided to the court prior to Friday’s hearing.

Gemma McKechnie, prosecuting, told the court Deeney turned up at the property on September 27 last year in an agitated state, having apparently been drinking.

Deeney’s cousin and his partner then left the property, no damage having been done before they left.

Ms McKechnie said: “They returned 15 minutes later, having heard a smashing sound from the direction of the locus.

“Significant damage had been done to the living room and kitchen, and furniture was lying broken and strewn around.”

Police were called to the scene, and when Deeney was cautioned, he replied: “Is this about me trashing my cousin’s house?”

Deeney, the court heard, then added: “I’m just going to plead guilty to it all anyway.”

And during a police interview he added: “Yes, it was me – I’m guilty.”

A further charge against Deeney, alleging that he had assaulted a woman who was six months pregnant by pushing her and causing her to fall on to a sofa, was dropped by the Crown.

Stephen McGuire, defending, said it had been suggested Deeney’s anger was the result of an argument over money.

But Sheriff John Hamilton then asked: “Why did he do it? He’s got some story about somebody having stolen money from him. But I don’t understand why a man with his [criminal] record, which is very poor, when something doesn’t go his way, trashes his cousin’s flat.

“The report suggests he has appalling impulse control, and that violence is his method of dispute resolution.”

Mr McGuire replied: “He knows there is no explanation. I understand that between him and his father, the damage was made good.

“At the time of the incident he was dealing with certain personal issues, and not dealing with them very well, but there is nothing that justifies his behaviour.”

Sheriff Hamilton told Deeney: “What an embarrassment. You should be ashamed of yourself.

“You’re 37 years old, and your record shows you’re a man who just can’t control his temper.

“I would be well justified in sending you to jail.”

But Deeney, of Shirley Avenue in the West Yorkshire town, was not sent to prison; instead he was placed on a community payback order which will see him supervised by social workers for the next 12 months.

He was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid community work by March 2020 as a punishment.

Sheriff Hamilton warned him: “If you don’t comply, given your record that will almost inevitably mean custody.”