Two drunken men who jumped out in front of cars on a busy main road only avoided causing an accident “by good chance”, according to a sheriff.

Ashley Kerton and Kiyryn van Evelingen were seen stumbling into the roadway, kicking road signs and throwing things into bushes on Gareloch Road in Rhu on April 4.

The pair stepped directly into the path of a police vehicle sent to investigate the incident, and hurled abuse at officers trying to get them to safety.

Fiscal depute Janette Maclean told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: “Witnesses saw and reported to police two drunk males jumping in front of vehicles causing them to swerve.

“Police were flashed by several other motorists when approaching the scene, where the accused stepped directly into the police vehicle's path.”

Ms Maclean said Kerton, 21, had shouted at police that they were “murderers, rapists and conmen” before throwing a bottle of cider into some nearby trees, and that van Evelingen, 19, had shouted: “You're public servants. This is illegal. You're all Nazi b*****s.”

Jonathan Paul, defending Kerton, said his client, whose address was given as the Faslane Peace Camp, had been drinking Buckfast for the first time before the incident happened.

“He accepts his behaviour was completely unacceptable,” Mr Paul continued. “He is genuinely ashamed of his actions.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told the pair, who pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace and to threatening police with violence: “This was ridiculous. The fact nobody ended up causing an accident and being traumatised for the rest of their lives was by good chance rather than anything else.”

Sentence on Kerton was deferred until August 11 for a background report and to ascertain his permanent address; van Evelingen, of Cheltenham Road in Gloucester, who has no previous convictions, was told to stay out of trouble until November 24.