A HELENSBURGH man who confronted three Royal Navy personnel at two takeaways in the town has been jailed for more than three and a half years.

Patrick Kelly was on licence when he committed the offences at Flamingos in East Princes Street and the Oriental Express in West Clyde Street in November.

And because the offence for which he had been jailed was similar to the November incident, he was sent to prison for 30 months – plus 13 from the unexpired portion of his previous sentence.

Kelly, 22, pleaded guilty last month to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, threatening violence, challenging the three men to fight, acting aggressively, brandishing a knife or similar incident at them and placing them in a state of fear and alarm.

At that hearing, Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told that Kelly had approached one of the trio at around 9pm on the night in question, shouting in his face and goading him to fight.

Kelly's companion tried to calm the situation down and apologise for his friend's behaviour, and though the witness drove off to get away from the situation, Kelly chased his car down the street.

At the second takeaway Kelly marched up to one of the trio saying he was going to 'fill him in' and 'I'm going to cut you'; Kelly then clenched his fists, but the witness could see a shiny metal blade, about one inch wide, protruding from one hand.

At the sentencing hearing last Thursday, Kelly's solicitor, Tom Brown, admitted: “There's not a great deal I can say. He understands what you're going to do is impose a custodial sentence.

“He's got a bad record – I can't get away from that. But he's not had the easiest of lives.

“He realises how stupid he's been and seems to have realised the effect his behaviour has on other people.

“I can only ask you to give him a wee bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise he's going to be in and out of prison for the rest of his life.”

Sheriff William Gallacher said: “His behaviour on the matter for which I sentenced him previously bears a striking resemblance to what happened on this occasion.

“On that previous occasion he had a more significant weapon. But even his pal was saying 'don't do that, put it away, you're going to get the jail'.

“The difficulty I have is how I reconcile his youth with my responsibility to protect the community.”

Mr Brown said in response that it would also be in the public interest to offer Kelly some encouragement, however small, and said his client realised he would have to take help while in prison.

“He knows he needs to take that assistance. Maybe he will mature a bit while he's in custody.”

Sheriff Gallacher told Kelly: “When this case called before me I did not at first recollect that I had sentenced you in the earlier case.

“I was concerned at your behaviour. You antagonised other people, and you armed yourself with a knife, if you were able to goad others into engaging in a fight.

“The previous case was again in a public area, with possession of a knife. That sentence remains outstanding so it is necessary for me to apply that sentence.”

Kelly, who was listed in court papers as being a prisoner at HMP Low Moss in Bishopbriggs, will also be the subject of a supervised release order for 12 months after he is set free.

Sheriff Gallacher added: “There are things you can do in custody. If you do not, I am seriously concerned you will seek to cause harm to other people – and, it is likely, serious harm to yourself as well.”