A 21-YEAR-OLD lad threatened to cut his dog’s head off.

On Thursday (February 4) at Alloa Sheriff Court, Connor Whalen faced numerous charges.

Fiscal depute Ruairidh Ferguson told the court that on November 21, 2014 he was witnessed shouting in the street outside Keilarsbrae House in Sauchie.

A resident caught Whalen kicking her garden gates. She asked him what he was doing to which he shouted, swore and threatened: “I’ll cut you.”

He called another female occupant of the same house a lesbian and warned: “I’ll do you in” and “I’ll stab you” as he brandished his fist.

Later on that evening in Alloa’s Gordon Drive, a taxi driver was in her vehicle waiting on her next fare. Her partner was also there.

The accused, who lived in the street at that time, hung out his window and shouted: “Ho, b**ch” and “get your fat boyfriend out of here”.

Whalen left his property and walked towards the couple whilst brandishing a glass bottle. He smashed it on the ground and then punched a car, causing damage.

When police arrived on the scene the accused ran into his house. Officers could see him at the upper window, but he would not answer his door.

He shouted: “Get to f**k”, “piggy b**tards”, “f**k off, ya wee p**ck” and “if you come in here, you’re getting stabbed”.

He also threatened: “Anybody comes in here they’re getting slashed and I’ll cut the dog’s head off.”

He jammed chairs behind the door, to which a joiner had to be called to obtain entry.

He then climbed out onto the roof, threw tiles to the ground, and threatened: “Polis b**tards. Back off or I’ll jump.”

Whalen eventually climbed back in and submitted to officers.

Defence agent Toni Pentecost claimed that her client has battled alcohol and substance misuse since he was a teenager.

Whalen has no real recollection of the November night’s activities, but accepts what the witnesses have said.

However, the accused was concerned that he made a threat against his own dog.

Whalen was also charged with entering a house uninvited in The Braes, Tullibody, refusing to leave when asked to do so by the occupants, and thereafter acting in an aggressive manner on December 13, 2014.

Ms Pentecost explained that there was no suggestion of breaking and entering.

The door was unlocked and Whalen appeared to be there in genuine error after mistakenly going into the wrong property instead of a nearby relative.

Whalen woke up the next morning in a cell, but could not remember the incident as he had been heavily under the influence. He accepts he put himself in that position.

Whalen was also charged with uttering threats of violence whilst brandishing a knife and being in possession of the blade without reasonable excuse or lawful authority at Clackmannanshire Health Care Centre car park on March 22, 2015.

Ms Pentecost stated that Whalen was contacted by an unknown person looking for a fight. The accused became concerned because the meet-up spot was near his house at the time.

When he turned up there were a number of people there, so he brandished the knife at them.

He realises this was not the appropriate action to take, but as he did not have a good relationship with the police he felt that they would not take him seriously.

Whalen was also charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Alloa’s Tay Court on August 24, 2015.

Mr Ferguson told the court that Whalen was watching TV with the young woman, with whom he’d been in an on-and-off relationship for years, when an argument broke out over Facebook messages.

The spat progressed outside to the car park.

The complainer went to her car, at which the accused stood outside the vehicle and continued the argument.

Whalen then struck the driver’s door with his knee, causing a dent. The complainer angrily got out and continued the quarrel.

Whalen then pushed her with both hands, tripped her up and knocked her to the ground.

The assault was captured on CCTV, and the police were called.

When interviewed by officers, Whalen stated: “It’s a lot of bulls**t.”

He claimed it was his ex and “her usual stories”, adding: “F**k sake.”

Ms Pentecost stated that Whalen could recall this incident.

The CCTV footage showed that Whalen was seen trying to rectify the situation and when he tried to walk away at one point the complainer followed him.

The complainer was seen to grab a cigarette from his mouth, but Whalen accepts that he should not have reacted in the way he did and should have removed himself from the situation.

The CCTV also showed that the couple continued to speak after the assault and eventually made up. They are no longer in a relationship though.

Ms Pentecost added that Whalen had a difficult upbringing and witnessed domestic abuse growing up.

Although he already has a lengthy record, this was the first incident of domestic abuse and has been a “wake-up call” for him.

Whalen, of Alloa’s Pine Grove, was also charged with failing without reasonable excuse to attend the town’s Sheriff Court on 30 March, 8 June, 6 October and 2 November, 2015 when required to do so.

Ms Pentecost claimed that Whalen was living in homeless accommodation, was heavily abusing alcohol and drugs, and did not take court seriously.

She added that Whalen was remanded for the first time last November and since then has significantly cut back on alcohol and drugs and has stayed out of trouble, which was an achievement for him.

Sheriff Gillian Wade deliberated over lunch. When court resumed, she sentenced Whalen to 20 months in prison.