A VALE man who was spared jail after battering at a door with a machete has been allowed to remain at large - despite a flagrant breach of a court’s orders.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard on Friday, September 6, that Daniel Hollern had been given a day and time for an appointment with social workers to have a report prepared after he breached a ‘restriction of liberty order’, or curfew, imposed for the offence.

The court heard that reports were ordered on August 20 after the breach was admitted - and that he had been given, and had accepted, an appointment to see a social worker on September 2.

But on the day he failed to show up - and then, a day later, he tried to claim he hadn’t known about the appointment at all.

Hollern was placed on the order after he admitted repeatedly striking a wooden door at his home in O’Hare, Bonhill, with a machete on March 23, 2018.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “It’s sometimes hard to believe how Mr Hollern can make things worse for himself, and each time he manages it: he’s given an appointment, agrees to attend, fails to attend and the following day claims he didn’t know about it.

“What possible trust could the court have that he will now do what he’s told to do?”

Hollern’s lawyer said his client was still suffering problems with his mental health after being the victim of an assault, and added: “He has never served a period in custody. It’s my hope that that threat will be enough to jolt him into action.”

Sheriff Hendry told Hollern: “The obvious, and easy, option is to take you into custody and you can spend two weeks, at least, waiting for a report to be prepared.

“With massive hesitation, I’m not going to do that today; you will get one last chance to have the report prepared while you’re at liberty.”

Hollern was released on bail – but a special condition was added to his bail order instructing him to attend a social work appointment on a specific date and time.

“If you do not attend that appointment,” the sheriff added, “you will have breached your bail order.

“If you will not comply with community-based disposals, you are facing a charge that involved a machete and a breach of bail: the maximum sentence in that scenario is not two weeks, or two months, but two years.”

Hollern’s case was adjourned until October 16.