A MAN has been cleared of threatening his former partner when she kicked him out.

Craig Forbes was found not guilty after a trial at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week after being accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and repeatedly turning up at his estranged wife's door in Scott Street, Clydebank, and attempting to gain entry.

Mr Forbes, of Hood Street, was alleged to have turned up three times on April 15 into 16 this year.

His ex told the court the police attended twice and spoke to the 44-year-old after he had trapped the door asking for his son to let him in.

Recounting the third occasion, she said: "Craig came back to the door again about 2am. He was trapping the door. I was angry. I phoned the police straight away.

"He had a set of keys but I had the locks changed that day. I know Craig that well that I knew he was drinking. I was quite scared.

"I said to Craig previously that I wanted to split up. I told him not to come to the house."

The alleged victim's 62-year-old mother also gave evidence but could not clearly describe the times of the visits by Mr Forbes or other details.

She told the court: "My daughter was at her wits end. She had told him to get away from the door."

After the crown closed their case, defence solicitor Kenny Clark submitted that there was no case to answer, with no evidence he had made threats or shouted during his visits to the door.

Depute fiscal Carol Cameron deleted the word "shout" from the charge but told the court: "What could be more threatening than someone trying to get into your home, your place of safety?"

Sheriff William Gallacher hit back, arguing: "I'm not a jury. This is a legal submission. You're a lawyer, I'm a lawyer, let's deal with it on that level."

Sheriff Gallacher rejected the claim there was no case to answer, but minutes later concluded Mr Forbes was not guilty.