A CLYDEBANK man found with a metal dog chain said he was going to confront a family member with it.

Neil Crombie pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to a single charge of having an offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority on September 21, 2021.

Fiscal depute Laura Martin told the court on August 1 that police were instructed to attend Kilbowie Road due to an ongoing disturbance.

It was then that 37-year-old Crombie, of Second Avenue, produced a metal dog chain from his right-hand pocket. 

He was arrested and taken to Clydebank police station.

Phil Lafferty, defending, said: "There is a very significant gap [in his offending]. He is somebody who has taken active steps to change his lifestyle.

"The date of the offence is getting to be two years old now and he hasn't been in any further trouble.

"On this particular day he felt he had no option but to confront the family member concerned. He was very anxious to avoid the confrontation in the future.

"If the offence were to appear back in the day, I would simply be inviting the court to impose a sentence which reflects the stages of plea and a discount, but I think the gap in time since the offence does allow the [social work] report to take the view that a non-custodial option is available."

Sheriff Clair McLachlan told Crombie: "I can't say it is an isolated incident, given your record, but my view is that a financial penalty, given the particular circumstances, would suffice."

Crombie was fined £400.

The sheriff added: "Hopefully I am right that this is just a blip."