A KILBOWIE man has been ordered to complete unpaid work in the community after being convicted of menacing behaviour when a friend “owed him money”.

James Long, of Crown Avenue, was sentenced at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Tuesday for threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause fear or alarm.

The 31-year-old had turned up at a house in Singer Street on November 23, 2017 demanding cash from the complainer, but the victim’s mother answered the door.

The fiscal depute said: “The accused asked to speak to her son. The witness was scared and unsettled by his presence and provided a mobile phone number for her son. She tried to get in contact with him but was unsuccessful.

“The accused said he owed him a debt and he better have it paid.”

Long’s solicitor said his client had attended the property to “pass on a message”.

The solicitor added: “A lot of water has passed under the bridge in relation to this incident. He had some menacing going the other way. The two of them have reconciled since then and are pals again.

“He realises he should not have gone round to the mother’s house, that is totally unacceptable.”

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The lawyer added that Long “had issues in the past with relation to drugs and alcohol” but had now found employment as a tradesman.

However, Sheriff John Hamilton said: “Someone who gets a conviction for menacing behaviour then goes to work in monoblocking, it is not perhaps the best.”

Long was told to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.