A RHU resident who shouted, swore and acted in an aggressive manner at a house in Helensburgh in the presence of his partner and child has been handed a community sentence – and warned that he faces prison if he doesn't comply.

Aaron McDonald, 26, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner at the property in Baird Avenue on April 5.

McDonald, of Laggary Road in Rhu, appeared in court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to the charge when he appeared from custody at an earlier hearing.

McDonald's solicitor, Lauren Kerr, told Friday's hearing that a background report from social workers suggested that a community payback order would be a suitable punishment.

Sheriff William Gallacher said: “I think there is a significant need for intervention and I expect the supervision to be fairly intense.”

Turning to address McDonald directly, the sheriff said: “I have heard what happened, and the background. I'm concerned at various things, not least your attitude and willingness to resort to the use of violence.

“The temptation is to impose a custodial sentence. That would be the easy option for you.

“More demanding on you is to impose a community payback order. Sometimes supervision can be fairly light and deft – in your case I think there are significant needs for people to intervene in relation to anger management and alcohol and drug misuse.”

McDonald was placed under social workers' supervision for 18 months and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work by February 2018.

But the sheriff warned him: “If you don't comply, you will be breached very rapidly, you will come back before me, and I will send you to prison.”

McDonald was told to come back to court on August 4 for a review of the order.