AN ALLOA man who subjected his ex-partner to a terrifying tirade of abuse while holding a weapon has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Matthew Arnott appeared in the dock for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 19.

He previously pleaded guilty to one charge of abusive behaviour, and another of possessing a weapon in public without a reasonable excuse.

The court heard from prosecutor Paul Jamieson that the 24-year-old flew into a rampage in Menstrie early on August 20 last year.

He had been due to pick up his children from his ex-partner at midday, but showed up to the woman’s house at around 10.30am in a rage.

While the woman was in the bath, Arnott told two of the children to open a living room window – which they did – then proceeded to remove them from the house.

Realising what was happening, his ex ran to the door, and Mr Jamieson said: “The accused immediately became aggressive towards her.

“He made various threats towards her, stating: ‘Phone the police if you want – by the time they get here you won’t have a window left.’

“He also said: ‘I’ll kill you’ on several occasions.”

The woman went inside and called 999, and by the time she went back outside, Arnott was standing there holding a hammer, making a series of threats to cause damage to her property.

The fiscal said: “The complainer then sees the accused has a petrol can and is making various threats to damage her property.”

Arnott even went as far as pouring petrol on her car – and filmed himself doing so.

The incident lasted “approximately 20 to 25 minutes” before police arrived and arrested Arnott.

Defence agent Larissa Milligan described the episode as a “particularly unpleasant” offence, for which her client was “upset and embarrassed”.

She said it came about because Arnott believed his ex had been “attempting to withhold contact” between him and the children.

She conceded there may have been some confusion “on his part” on the date in question as to when the children were being dropped off.

She went on to say her client was a first offender who struggled with his mental health and cannabis use, and asked for that to be considered.

Visiting Sheriff David Hall was so concerned that he chose to adjourn the case for several hours, in order to consider what the appropriate sentence would be.

When he returned to the bench just after 2pm, he told Arnott: “I have been thinking over the lunch period about what to do with you.

“This is an extremely serious matter.

“Your behaviour was simply unacceptable, made worse because you behaved the way you did in front of your children.

“The effect that will have had on your children just beggars belief.

“It may well be that in future, you will find it extremely difficult to have contact with your children.”

He then claimed the only thing stopping him from sending Arnott into custody was the fact he was appearing before the court without any previous convictions.

As a direct alternative to custody, the sheriff placed Arnott on a community payback order with three elements.

These include two years supervision, a requirement to attend the Caledonian programme, and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The sheriff also put a non-harassment order in place for a period of two years, preventing Arnott, of Bowhouse Gardens, from communicating or attempting to communicate with his ex throughout that period.