A TEENAGER who threatened to slash a prison transport security guard and then spat in his face was jailed for 12 months yesterday.

Kenneth Bridges, 19, lashed out at the G4S officer during a court appearance at Alloa Sheriff Court last year. 

He was being taken into custody by the officer when he turned on him and said he would "make a weapon in prison and slash him on his return to court".

Then, in the G4S van outside the building, he spat in the custody officer's face.

Bridges, of Alloa, described on indictment as a prisoner in Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, pleaded guilty to assault and using threatening and abusive behaviour.

The teen appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing.

Defence agent Kelly Howe said Bridges was the only member of his family who got into trouble with the law, and as a result of what he had done he had been banned from his dying grandfather's forthcoming funeral.

Ms Howe said: "He is very close to his grandfather, who is 83 and has been suffering from cancer, and is now suffering from pneumonia.

"He has been told he will not be welcome, if his grandfather passes, as is expected, if he is taken to the funeral in handcuffs.

"He accepts this is a consequence of his behaviour."

Imposing the 12-month jail term, Sheriff William Gilchrist told Bridges he had a "deplorable" record.

He said the spitting was a "nasty assault" and both offensives were aggravated by their context, in and outside a courtroom.