A MAN hit his ex-partner over the head with a wine bottle after he dragged a knife down a wall in a terrifying ordeal in Helensburgh.

Scott Birtles placed his hand over his former partner's mouth to stop her moving at a property on Old Luss Road.

During the incident, on July 2 last year, it was heard at Dumbarton Sheriff Court that the 34-year-old became enraged after seeing text messages and began stabbing the kitchen wall with a knife.

He appeared for sentencing at the town's court for three separate cases spanning from May until December 2022.

Procurator fiscal Tiffany Chisholm told the hearing that Birtles was stopped by police on Cardross Road in Dumbarton where he was caught drink driving on May 15 last year.

He gave a sample with 50 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millimetres of breath. The legal limit in Scotland is 22 microgrammes.

He was arrested and taken to Clydebank police station; on arrival he told police that he had a knife in his possession, and handed it over.

Birtles admitted to having a weapon on him in a public place without a lawful excuse and to drink driving.

Ms Chisholm then told the hearing that for the July offence, Birtles was in the kitchen where he saw text messages on his ex's phone and became enraged. He grabbed a kitchen knife before stabbing at the wall and pulling it down the wall in anger.

Then he grabbed a bottle of wine in the living room, struck his partner on the back of the head, grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth to stop her from moving.

He pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by striking a door with a glass bottle causing it to smash, threatening to harm himself by using the broken glass, utter threats of violence and repeatedly strike a wall with a knife.

Birtles also admitted to assaulting his former partner at the property.

It was heard he also pleaded guilty to driving dangerously on the A82 and A818 in Alexandria when he crossed the central reservation, drive at excess speeds, overtake other motor vehicles when it was unsafe to do so and cause them to take evasive action on December 18, 2022.

And because Birtles now lives in England not all options for punishment were available as they could not be transferred.

His lawyer said: "He has reflected on his offending and has not offended since. He is trying very hard to address the issues in his life. He is abstinent from alcohol which is very helpful to his mental health.

"He is just trying to better himself."

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "Your case is presenting considerable challenges. Really you should go to prison for these offences. It is as simple and basic as that.

"The way you were behaving last year was quite simply unacceptable and never to be repeated."

Birtles, of Sandon Street, Darwen, was disqualified for three years and ordered to pay back £500 in compensation.

He was also placed on a community payback order for two years under social work supervision and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

A non-harassment order was imposed to protect his ex from contact for five years.

Sentencing on the December case was deferred until later this year.