A TULLIBODY man has been given six months to be of good behaviour or will face time in custody, Alloa Sheriff Court has heard.

David Somerville (32) pleaded guilty to abusive behaviour following a drunken afternoon bender on 27 January this year.

After an argument with his partner in the morning, he then began to consume alcohol and ended up shouting abuse at people outside his home on Blackmuir Place.

Depute fiscal Marie-Claire Chaffey said: “The accused was seen shouting and swearing outside the locus and was encouraging passers-by to fight with him.

“Two witnesses — his partner and his neighbour — both made attempts to calm him down. But he was extremely intoxicated and became agitated.

“He said things such as: ‘You fat b**tard, I’m gonnae get my mum to you’.

“The witnesses took hold of him and tried to get him inside the common close, but he began to lash out.

“They then left him there and he began to punch and kick a door there and continued to shout and swear.

“Both witnesses became fearful of his actions and contacted the police.” The court also heard that Somerville has a number of similar convictions to his name, and that alcohol was a major contributing factor in these offences.

Nevertheless, defence agent Jim Savage said his client had taken full responsibility for his actions at the earliest possible opportunity.

He added: “His own recollection of these events is scant; however, he has not sought to minimise his involvement in any way.

“He pled guilty at the first instance and he recognises that the two women here were just trying to do the right thing.

“When he drinks, he cannot control himself properly. Alcohol has been a factor in his previous offending.” In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie warned Somerville that any further offending would likely see him locked up.

He said: “The objective here is to help you understand that you can’t bring violence into your domestic relationship.

“You have a history of such instances and that appears to be mostly when you have consumed alcohol.

“I’m not going to impose a custodial sentence today, but I will defer for a period of six months.

“If when you return to court your record is clear then we will look to deal with this matter by way of unpaid work.

“I really hope this is the case.”