John Gray claimed he intended on going a walk by the canal to “find peace” after a booze session — but he then declared war on an innocent man.

The 35-year-old thug came across his victim, who was walking along the canal path to turn into Livingstone Street, and threatened to stab him.

Gray then pushed his victim into the canal and launched a vicious assault as the terrified man tried to climb back out, it was last week heard at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, pictured right.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told Gray that his victim must have wondered “whether they were going to survive” the attack.

Fiscal depute Hamza Pertab told the court that the victim was walking along the canal path at 5.50pm on August 28 last year when he was approached by Gray, who was walking his dog.

Gray suddenly became aggressive and ordered his dog to sit while he “dealt with” the man, before threatening to stab him.

Ms Pertab said: “The accused moved towards (the victim) with his hands behind his back leading him to think he had a weapon.

“He then said, ‘I’m going to stab f*** out of you’.

“The accused then lunged towards (the victim), who tried to defend himself and was pushed into the canal by the accused.” Ms Pertab said Gray continued to try and hit the man as he climbed out of the canal.

The victim then managed to escape to Livingstone Street and told three people there he had been assaulted.

The witnesses saw Gray with blood on his hands and smelling of alcohol and the police were called.

A background report found that the Gray had gone to the canal to “find peace”.

Sheriff Hendry told the court: “The report states that he consumed some alcohol to try and relieve stress and took a walk along the canal to try and find peace.

“Whatever he found, it cannot be said to be peace.” He added: “The victim in this situation must have thought whether this was a situation which they were going to survive.

“It’s difficult to overstate how frightening an experience this must have been.” Gray, of Fore Street, Scotstoun, pled guilty to the assault. His lawyer, Gail Campbell, said Gray had problems with alcohol and had taken to drink on the day of the assault because he was “emotionally distressed”.

She added: “He is absolutely appalled at his actions that day. I don’t think anything can be said to mitigate the distress that must have been caused to the victim.” She said Gray had using the services of a psychiatrist and psychologist as well as attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. She argued that this support system meant he did not have to be jailed.

Sheriff Hendry told Gray: “This was an unprovoked and terrifying assault upon a person who was simply going about his normal business, walking along a path.

“How frightening it must have been for an innocent member of the public to be confronted by you in the fashion you did.

“It is quite clear that you have a history of difficulties and that is something that you are aware of.

“There are certain things that you simply cannot allow yourself to do. One of them is to start a domino effect by using alcohol when no one knows where that’s going to lead to.” He added: “It’s simply on a very fine balance that I’m not going to send you to custody today.” Sheriff Hendry sentenced Gray to a community payback order with two years of supervision and 180 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay his victim £400 compensation.