A TILLICOULTRY man who threatened a woman who rejected his advances has been given a community payback order.

Kyle Paterson (21) admitted to acting in a threatening and abusive manner in that he shouted at two people while having a knife in his possession.

He also pleaded guilty to a failure to appear at court in respect of this charge and a breach of a separate court order.

Paterson, of Hillview Terrace, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (26 February) to be sentenced.

He was drinking in his friend’s house on Barnhill Drive, Tullibody, on 22 March 2014 when the incident took place.

Depute fiscal Marie-Claire Chaffey told the court that the two had been drinking there before the cousin of the accused’s friend later arrived.

She said: “At several points in the evening, the accused asked her to go on a date with him.

“She politely rejected his advances but soon after he became very upset.

“The accused then began to scream and shout at both his friend and his cousin.

“His friend tried to calm him down but he became increasingly antagonised and challenged him to fight.

“On a number of occasions, he was asked to leave the property before he went off into the kitchen and put a knife into his trouser pocket.

“The female complainer was distressed by this and called the police but by the time they arrived he had put it back in the kitchen.

“When interviewed, he admitted to having the knife but said he did not threaten anyone.” Paterson’s defence agent Kelly Howe told the court that her client’s offending had been a product of excessive alcohol and drug use.

She said: “Mr Paterson presents himself in court today as a very different person from what he had been when these offences took place.

“He had significant issues with excessive alcohol consumption and with valium misuse.

“However, he is beginning to address those issues and has a limited record of previous convictions.

“And given his recent progress, he has not been assessed as having a high-risk of re-offending.” She added: “On the face of it, he is doing everything he can to contribute to society.

“His previous failures to comply with court orders was largely due to his alcohol and drug use – both of which has taken steps to deal with.

“He is currently in search for paid employment, which helps to demonstrate his desire to move on from his previous chaotic lifestyle.” After hearing the submissions, Sheriff Simon Collins ordered that Paterson be given a final opportunity to remain in the community.

However, he warned that failure to fully comply will prompt a period in custody.

He said: “This offence is a serious one and the use of drink or drugs is no excuse.

“You still have 30 hours of unpaid work to do from a previous order, so I will let that continue.

“However, in relation to this new matter and the failure to appear at court, I will impose a further order for 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed in the next nine months.

“There will also be a period of supervision which will run for the next 12 months, with a review hearing fixed for three months.

“I should say this order is made as a direct alternative to custody. If you treat this order as you have previous ones, then you will be brought back to court and another sentence – most likely prison – will be imposed.”