A VIOLENT thug is facing years in jail for threatening a man he robbed nearly seven years ago.

Francis Miller was convicted when he was only 17 of armed robbery against an 18-year-old man and then threatening and assaulting his sister in a bid to silence him.

Then years later he “found himself” near his victim’s Faifley home and proceeded to launch a sustained barrage of threats through a living room window while the man and his family were inside, including children aged two and three months and a 30-week pregnant woman.

Miller, now 23 and a prisoner of Low Moss, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week to the latest threats and to acting aggressively against police, while on bail, as well as assaulting a police officer by spitting at her.

Depute fiscal Sarah Healing, who also prosecuted Miller in 2011, said he was linked to the victim through the original case.

The victim, then 18, was robbed at knifepoint along with a 17-year-old on Faifley Road on October 30, 2010. Miller and another 17-year-old were convicted of the armed robbery by a jury.

Miller also approached the victim’s sister on January 10, 2011, and assaulted her on July 9, 2011, in a bid to stop her brother giving evidence against him – an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

Then on January 17, 2017, at around 7.30pm, the victim was walking in Abbeylands Road towards his home when he heard someone shouting behind him. He recognised Miller immediately.

Miller was shouting comments, including: “You’re a grass”, and “You’re a paedo”.

The victim entered his home and informed his parents of the situation. A short time later, Miller approached the living room window.

Ms Healing said: “He ignored the accused and entered his home. He could still hear Miller shouting and he went to the living room to inform his parents. A short time later, the accused entered the garden area and made his way up the driveway. He approached the living room window with the blinds up.“He pointed at each person separately while shouting aggressively, ‘Yous are all grasses’ and ‘You think you’re a gangster but you’re a grass’ and ‘you’re getting done in, you’re getting stabbed’.”

Miller was banging the window so hard those inside feared it would smash leaving everyone “terrified”.

A friend of the family, who knew Miller, went out to try to calm him down by saying there were children present, initially escorting him from the garden after more threats.

But Miller then went to a neighbouring garden and appeared to be rummaging for items on the ground, leading residents to fear he was looking for something with which to smash the window.

Miller jumped over the fence to get back into the garden and tried to pick up a satellite dish but when he was unable to do so he returned to the window and continued his barrage of abuse.

Police arrived around 7.50pm and saw Miller running off through the rear of the adjacent close. The two female officers gave chase and saw him climbing a fence when he turned and started shouting threats, including: “What are yous going to do? Come up and f****** get me” and “Yous are f****** stupid cows”.

He then spat on one of the officers, which landed on her stab vest.

Miller was arrested around 30 minutes later. He was not charged because he was intoxicated.

Ms Healing said: “We are now in 2017 and [Miller] is clearly not giving up.”

She asked for an indefinite non-harassment order to protect the family from Miller, adding: “I would not expect anyone within the family to have any difficulty with that.”

Even Miller’s defence solicitor accepted it was a “shocking incident”. He said: “He is only just 23 years old and has the record of someone twice his age. He appears to be civil and bright.

“This is not someone ruminating over the attack. It was the first anniversary of the accused’s best friend who died of a drugs overdose. He took too much to drink and he just lost it.

“He found himself in close vicinity of the complainer’s house and the offence took place.

“There’s no justification being put forward. I do get a sense that at long last, he is beginning to mature.”

Sheriff William Gallacher repeatedly branded the case an “attack on the process of justice” and suggested sentencing could be determined by the High Court.

He said the victim did what society requires of him, not choosing to be part of the justice system.

He said: “The community has to know protection will be afforded to them. It’s inevitably a lengthy sentence of years.”

Sentence was adjourned until April 26.