Police found Barry Carey with the weapon in his pocket outside a block of flats in Duntocher Road after being called to the scene by a worried tenant. The 27-year-old, who was on licence at the time, had sparked the resident’s fears after he attempted to get inside the terraced building before trying to open the front door of one of the homes and repeatedly knocking and kicking at it.

Last week Carey, who is currently residing at Low Moss prison, appeared in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to learn his fate after admitting his involvement in the offences which took place on Saturday, November 22 last year.

Malcolm MacLeod, fiscal depute, said at around 9.50pm a drunken Carey had turned up at the Craiglea Road flats and had tried to get into the close, repeatedly pressing the bell to one of the properties.

The home’s occupier looked out the window, saw Carey and decided not to answer.

However, Carey eventually managed to get into the common close and went to the door of a flat before trying the door handle, knocking at the door and kicking it which prompted the worried tenant to contact police.

Carey then made his way outside and began shouting up at the window of the property.

The court heard at that stage it became clear he was under the influence of something.

When police arrived they found Carey standing on the front grass outside the block of flats.

Officers handcuffed him and found an orange and black locking knife similar to a Stanley blade in his trouser pocket. He was taken to Clydebank Police Office but wasn’t interviewed because of his drunken state.

Phil Lafferty, defending, said Carey was realistic about the sentence he would receive.

However, he stressed his client was on good terms with male occupant of the house and had no animosity towards anybody living there and couldn’t fathom why he was trying to get into the property.

Mr Lafferty also said it was no coincidence the day these offences were committed was the first occasion Carey had been drinking since being released from prison.

He added: “When he’s drunk this is the type of thing that unfortunately happens all too regularly.” Sheriff Bill Dunlop ordered Carey to serve the remainder of the unexpired portion of his previous prison sentence totalling three months before undertaking a further 16 months behind bars for his latest criminal actions.