Joseph McLaughlin, 47, was out for a meal at the Lodge on the Loch Hotel with his wife and in-laws when things turned sour.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard that McLaughlin’s wife decided to go for a walk at a around 9pm because her husband was so drunk.

Fiscal depute Isobel Martin said: “He realised she had gone off and he became distressed and frustrated.

“He decided to phone the police and reported his wife missing.

“Four officers arrived and they confirmed Mrs McLaughlin was well and safe. When they were speaking to the accused he became aggressive and abusive towards them, shouting and swearing.

“At that point he was taken by police to their van. He was struggling to get out of the van, he threatened to kick them and was calling them Nazis.” First offender McLaughlin pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and to resisting arrest from four police constables.

His lawyer told the court McLaughlin worked as a contract supervisor for a roofing firm and had ‘little recollection’ of what took place on February 14 this year.

The lawyer said: “It seems this behaviour is out of character for him. He was out socially with his wife and in-laws. He doesn’t remember how things went so badly wrong.” He said McLaughlin had been put on medication for stress just days previously and it was possible that this may have affected his mood, especially when combined with alcohol.

He added that McLaughlin, of Broughton Road, Summerston, Glasgow, was ‘sorry about what happened’ and that his wife was very supportive.

Sheriff William Gallacher deferred sentence on McLaughlin until June 2 for him to be of good behaviour and to take action to demonstrate his remorse to his wife and the police.