A MAN who was alleged to have threatened to cut the throat of his girlfriend with a nine inch blade during a domestic disturbance in Kilcreggan has been cleared of assault.

Lee Anderson, 36, of Feorlin Way, Garelochhead, denied the charges against him - and was found not guilty after a trial in front of Sheriff John Hamilton earlier this week.

But Anderson was convicted of a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence and placing the woman in a state of fear or alarm.

It was alleged that on May 17 this year, at Princes Terrace in the village, Anderson assaulted his now ex-partner and repeatedly pushed her on the body, caused her to fall to the floor, repeatedly seized her by the neck, held her using his arm, and placed his knee on her neck as she lay on the floor.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told that the alleged victim had lived in Spain for 15 years but returned to Scotland and found it a "culture shock".

The court was also told how the couple had only been together for one month before the relationship became "strained."

It was alleged that Anderson came home to the property drunk and started acting "sarcastically" towards his girlfriend, telling her: "You've got as long as a cigarette takes to burn to get out of my home."

Giving evidence, the victim claimed that a "verbal exchange" followed before she made a comment about Anderson's ex-wife and his children, prompting him to carry out the alleged assault.

It was alleged Anderson told her: "Say anything about my ex-wife and children again and I'll go into the kitchen, take a nine inch blade and put it through your throat."

The victim claimed that Anderson had her pinned against the floor for around "seven to 10 minutes" but then got up and went to the kitchen.

At this point, the victim claimed she picked up a pint glass and Anderson spotted the glass in the corner of his eye.

He was alleged to have said to her that he would "pick up the broken glass and put them in your eyes."

The victim claimed she ran back into the bedroom, found her mobile phone and ran out out the property to a nearby pub.

Police were called and she was found on the beach a short distance away.

Anderson's defence solicitor, Lauren Kerr, disputed the witness's version of events during cross examination, and put it to her that she was "the aggressor" and made a comment about Anderson's ex-wife and children to "anger him".

Miss Kerr added: "You said you were having an argument and he was telling you to leave. You were effectively leaving, but all of a sudden he grabs on to you and is keeping you in the house?

"It does not make a lot of sense."

It was also put to the witness that Anderson had tried to restrain her because she had a pint glass in her hand and that she was "very angry" the relationship was over.

However, the witness said she was "not surprised" when Mr Anderson asked her to leave. She added: "I saw it coming."

Ms Kerr said: "I would suggest you were not happy about that."

On conclusion of the trial Sheriff Hamilton found Anderson not guilty of the assault charge but guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm.

Anderson was fined £250.