A PROTESTER whose drunken behaviour forced passing drivers to take evasive action to avoid a collision on a main road near the Faslane naval base has been handed a community sentence.

Ashley Kerton was ordered to carry out unpaid work after a background report suggested he might be able to use his artistic talent to help others.

Kerton, 21, had pleaded guilty at a previous court hearing to behaving in a disorderly manner on Gareloch Road in Rhu on April 4 by shouting, swearing, kicking road signs, standing in front of moving cars, blocking the road and throwing items around.

At that hearing, held on July 21, Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told Kerton, formerly of the Faslane Peace Camp at Shandon, and a second accused had stepped out in front of a police vehicle which had been sent to investigate the incident, and had hurled abuse at officers, calling them “murderers, rapists and conmen”.

Sentence was deferred on that occasion to allow the court to obtain a background report on Kerton and to find out his permanent address.

When the case called again on August 11, Jonathan Paul, Kerton's solicitor, said his client was now living in Dereham in Norfolk, and that he would be able to comply with any community order imposed by the court.

“We've spoken before about this,” Sheriff William Gallacher told Kerton.

“This won't do. People are entitled to protest, but you can't do it in a way that causes this level of apprehension in other people.

“The fact you're not dead is very fortunate, and the fact some other driver didn't get the fright of their life is also very fortunate.”

Before passing sentence, the sheriff observed that the background report on Kerton's circumstances mentioned his artistic talents, and asked if he was indeed any good at art.

Kerton first hesitated, before replying that “art is art,” raising smiles around the courtroom.

“That's the classic question,” the sheriff said wryly. “But do other people think you're any good?”

Kerton was told to carry out 110 hours of unpaid work within six months.