A HELENSBURGH man who reached the “end of his tether” has notched up his first criminal conviction for an assault outside a pub.

Thomas Baillie (61), of John Street, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week to pushing the man on the body, causing him to fall to the ground, and repeatedly punching him on the head.

The court heard how Baillie and his victim had known each other for a number of years and did not get on. About 5pm on August 9 an argument broke out in James Street just before the attack. Baillie was dragged away and later told police: “I was just protecting myself.”

Fiscal depute Emma Thomson added: “He stated he just snapped.”

Baillie’s solicitor Kenny Clark said his client had suffered a head injury last March where he was knocked out.

He explained Baillie was in the pub with a friend when the eventual victim turned up and sat at their table. The man “made a habit of going there to try to antagonise them”, Mr Clark said, in an ongoing dispute.

The man reportedly told Baillie: “You don’t like me, I don’t like you, let’s sort this out.”

Mr Clark said: “This is a matter that has weighed pretty heavily on him. He snapped. He was at the end of his tether. He is remorseful and concerned he now finds himself with a criminal conviction.”

He added that after the incident, Baillie’s victim was asked to leave the pub – and that his victim was later barred from the pub entirely for other incidents.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry deferred sentence until June 8 for Baillie to be of good behaviour.