A DUMBARTON man who repeatedly hurled racist threats at police officers threatened to rape one cop’s daughter.

But in spite of his foul-mouthed abuse Stephen McKenzie was spared jail after his solicitor said the 36-year-old had been “let down by the mental health system”.

McKenzie, formerly of Ashton View, appeared at the town’s sheriff court for sentencing last week after pleading guilty to acting aggressively towards police three times in less than a month.

Daisy Bentley, prosecuting, said staff at the Blue Triangle housing association in Clydebank contacted police on March 15 out of concern for McKenzie’s welfare.

A short time later two police officers arrived and spoke to McKenzie through the letterbox of his front door. McKenzie then opened the door, becoming agitated, and told cops: “I’m an aggressive guy. I am not scared to fight the two of you.”

Police told McKenzie they only wanted to make sure he was safe and well, but by then McKenzie’s behaviour was “up and down”.

He began shouting “I’ll kick the f*** out of youse” and “I’m not scared”.

He was told to stop but after continuing with the threats was arrested and taken to Clydebank police station.

At the station he turned his body towards a cop and said “I’ll f*****g take you down big man – I will take the key off you, you c***”.

In a separate incident, police were contacted at 9.30pm on April 8, again out out of concern at McKenzie’s behaviour at his home in Ashton View.

This time, Ms Bentley said, he called one officer a “black b******” several times and continually made comments about bananas and monkeys.

Then, after being taken to the police station, he threatened to rape an officer’s child, stating he was “good with faces and would find them”.

Just three days later, police found McKenzie on Onslow Road in Clydebank while dealing with an unrelated incident; he again became agitated and called the cops “black b******s”.

Again he was taken to Clydebank police station, but this time, after being cautioned and charged, he replied: “I f****d it – sorry, boys.”

Judith Reid, defending said: “A lot of drink has been involved. He had been in a very bad way.

“He appears as someone who has been let down by the mental health system.”

For the March incident, McKenzie was put on a community payback order with social work supervision and a conduct requirement to attend an appointment with a psychiatrist later this month and to go to alcohol and drug counselling as required.

Sentence on the April matters was deferred until June for good behaviour.