A SHERIFF has warned a Dalmuir man that he has “come as close as you would ever want to come” to spending time behind bars.

Ryan McVicar, of Overtoun Court, was accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his partner at his own address and at another Clydebank flat on November 10, 2020.

The 29-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing on four offences.

One of the charges against McVicar stated that he “did utter sexual remarks towards your partner, and repeatedly shout, swear and utter offensive remarks”.

That offence was committed while he was on bail for a separate matter from September 2019 and was aggravated in the eyes of the court by involving abuse of his partner.

Defence solicitor Leo McGinn told last week’s hearing: “He is aware of the impact his offending has had and he is aware of the root of his offending.

“He accepts that alcohol is the problem and when he is sober, which he has been for two to three months now, he does not come to the attention of the police.”

Describing McVicar’s behaviour as “unacceptable and out of control”, Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told him: “I do not know if you realise or if this keeps you awake at night but you have come as close as you would ever want to come to spending time as a prisoner in jail.”

McVicar was handed a community payback order (CPO). He will be under supervision by the social work department for a period of 18 months with a requirement to attend alcohol treatment and/or counselling.

He must also carry out 125 hours of unpaid work in the community. A second CPO for a separate offence means McVicar must carry out a further 140 hours of unpaid work.

Sheriff Hendry added: “These orders will run consecutively, so you will have 265 hours in total to complete, close to the maximum of 300 to show you how close you came to a custodial sentence.”

Sentence was deferred on the remaining two matters.