A THUG who spent several hours hurling abuse at his former partner at a Clydebank flat has been slammed for his “pathetic” behaviour – but has been spared a prison sentence.

David Graham threatened to “pummel” his ex in the prolonged outburst at his ex and her sister at a flat in Collins Street on November 4, 2017.

A court heard the 41-year-old and his ex had been “bickering” before a more severe argument broke out over a cigarette.

Kara Watt told Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday, January 25: “The accused and the witness had been in an on-off relationship for around eight years.

“The accused began to shout and swear at the complainer, who contacted her sister and asked her to come to the locus.

“At nine o’clock her sister attended. The accused continued to shout and swear, stating “shut the f*** up” repeatedly.

“The accused was asked to leave but refused to do so - he shouted “I’m the king and I’ll leave when I’m good and ready”.

“This continued for around 30-40 minutes.

“The accused became irate and began kicking at the walls and doors within the bedroom. He continued to shout and swear at both witnesses, telling [his ex] to ‘come outside right now and I’ll f****** pummel you”.

Ms Watt said Graham, of Grasmere Avenue, Warrington, punched and smashed a window within the common close as he left the scene.

Lauren Kerr, defending, referred to a community payback order handed to Graham by the English court system for a road traffic matter, and told the court her client also had an unexpired portion of a previous prison sentence outstanding against him.

Ms Kerr said: “He appreciates the difficult position he is in. The offence itself is not one of the worst, but his record doesn’t do him any favours.”

Sheriff John Hamilton said: “Your record is very poor. You went outside to smoke a cigarette and things went wrong.

“Your conduct was deeply offensive and must have been very disturbing for others. It reflects your inadequate personality. Stating ‘I’m the king’? Pathetic.”

Graham was told to do 200 hours’ unpaid work within six months as a punishment, and was placed under social workers’ supervision until January 2020.

The sheriff added: “This is an opportunity not to go to jail.”