A MAN who threatened his mother and made vile comments to cops was described as a “Jekyll and Hyde” character.

Jamie O’Donnell, 27, of McDonald Crescent, Clydebank, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday having previously pleaded guilty to two matters last year.

On August 20, 2019, at a property in Regent Place, Clydebank, and in a police van O’Donnell - then a resident of Alexander Street, Dumbarton - shouted, swore and uttered threats.

He was on bail from just weeks earlier.

Then on May 30 last year, at a property in Glen Avenue, Balloch, and en route to Clydebank police office, did repeatedly spit on the head of his mother, repeatedly shout and swear at her, shout and swear at two police offices and threaten to harm them, uttering abuse and obscenities against their family.

The court heard how O’Donnell had told police, “See you? Go and f*** your mother, you mongrel” and “See if you dug up your dead mother, I will sh** her you mongrels”.

And he told them: “When my wrists come off, so does your face.”

O’Donnell’s defence solicitor compared his client to the literary characters Jekyll and Hyde.

Stephen McGuire said: “When sober, he has a lot to contribute. When he is drinking his behaviour becomes abusive and aggressive.”

But Sheriff John Hamilton then started a literary analysis of the comparison, pointing out that author Robert Louis Stevenson was trying to point out that the “veneer of civilisation actually was veiled by this potion”.

He said: “What we are dealing with is the real Jamie O’Donnell.”

O’Donnell was previously ordered to do 225 hours of unpaid work back in 2019 - he still has 36 hours left.

His supervision by social work is also due to end soon. He was then caught drinking in public in January this year.

Sheriff Hamilton said O’Donnell claimed he attended Alcoholics Anonymous but “didn’t feel this was helpful”.

He drew particular attention to the man’s drinking outdoors in January.

Mr McGuire said: “He realises he has a problem.” But the sheriff again criticised the fact it took until just four days before the court appearance for O’Donnell to contact alcohol charity DACA.

He questioned: “He does have a drink problem so why does it take to today? It demonstrates he doesn’t get it yet.

“All the evidence says to me he doesn’t get the alcohol problem you’re saying he does.”

Sheriff Hamilton told O’Donnell: “You might not be addicted to it, but the way you drink and to excess is a problem.”

O’Donnell was ordered to be under social work supervision for two years and carry out 260 hours of unpaid work in the community.

There is a conduct requirement to attend any alcohol counselling or treatment ordered.

This is a direct alternative to custody.