AN ALVA man has been given a 16-month prison term for attempting to take a knife to the man who sexually abused his daughter.

The 42-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to possessing a knife outside a property on High Street, Alloa.

He appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (22 January) to face sentencing.

The court heard that he had gone to confront his daughter’s attacker armed with the blade on 22 September 2014, but did not inflict any damage or come face-to-face with him.

He then later called the police himself to report himself, as he was in ‘danger of causing harm to himself and to others’.

Paul Sweeney, defending, said: “[My client] fully accepts responsibility for his actions and is under no illusions that the court has no other option than to impose a custodial sentence at this time.

“However, by way of background, my client was victim to a very serious assault in 2004, which resulted in him spending two-and-a-half weeks in a coma.

“He has since dabbled in cannabis and alcohol, and really it has only been since that attack that he has been prone to violent outbursts himself.” Mr Sweeney also made mention of the fact his client had gone to confront the man who was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter in 2002.

In that case, the offender served a little over two weeks’ in prison before being freed pending an appeal, but the conviction was upheld. In 2008, however, his lawyers successfully challenged his sentence, which was converted to 300 hours of unpaid work.

In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie said: “It is clear you have an understanding of the offence and of your actions.

“It is a very serious matter – you went to confront the man who harmed your daughter with a knife.

“However, I agree that, considering your record, custody is inevitable and so in this case I will impose a sentence of 24 months reduced to 16 months.

“This reduction is due to the fact that you faced up to the offence as early as possible.” Sheriff Mackie told the man that the sentence will be backdated to 24 September — when he was first remanded in custody — and that he will face a period of eight months’ supervision when released.