AN ALLOA man who attacked his girlfriend in public has been given an extra 12 months to complete his unpaid work after he claimed he wasn’t fit to do so.

Francis McFarlane appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Monday, May 14, for breaching his original community payback order (CPO).

He was previously sentenced for two offences which took place on October 3, 2016.

While in bars on Rose Street, South Charlotte Street and Princes Street, all Edinburgh, McFarlane assaulted his then partner and brandished a knife at her.

He proceeded to threaten her with violence, threaten to stab her, throw a glass at her, strike her on the face causing her to fall, grab her by the hair and throw her to the floor.

The 32-year-old, of Schaw Court, went on follow her, push her and strike her on the head.

That same day, the accused shouted and swore at police officers and threatened them with violence and threatened to stab and kill them. He also made homophobic remarks towards them.

McFarlane’s lawyer, Kelly Howe, told the court that her client had a certificate from a doctor to say that he was not fit to do paid work, which he thought would have been enough to cover him for unpaid work as well.

He has since went back to paid work and is willing to cut his hours in order to complete his CPO, according to Ms Howe.

Sheriff David Mackie extended his order by 12 months.