A RENTON man who caused a woman to fear for her safety and hide in a wardrobe has been sentenced to unpaid community work.

Sean Lough, 27, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court from custody last Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of Wellington boots from a property in Cardross Road, Renton, and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause fear or alarm.

He was sentenced to 18 months supervision, and 135 hours of unpaid work in the community to be completed within six months, a direct alternative to a custodial sentence. Sheriff Simon Pender said it would have been 180 hours but was reduced for an early guilty plea.

For a second charge of stealing from a shop, Lough had his sentence deferred for him to be of good behaviour.

Fiscal depute Jeanette Maclean told the court Lough had been seen by a witness who was leaving his property in Cardross Road at around 7.15am on February 1.

The witness phoned his wife, who was still in the house.

Ms Maclean said: “He observed a male wearing dark clothing walking up a hill in the direction of the locus.

“He believed him to be suspicious. He contacted his wife who was at home to make her aware.

“She made her way in to the kitchen turning on the lights then made her way to the living room.”

As she looked out the window, she saw the man as described jump over the gate, which activated the property security lights.

Ms Maclean said: “[The witness] feared for her safety and made her way upstairs and she hid in a wardrobe.”

The woman heard the door of the balcony banging, and she made her way across the room, opening the curtains and saw Lough standing on the balcony outside.

He had his hands on the door handles, and the witness shouted through the door that she had contacted the police.

Lough replied “Alright” and backed away, walking out of sight.

The court was told police attended and saw the accused walking down Cardross Road towards where he had parked his vehicle, approximately 20m from the front gates.

Ms Maclean said he immediately became aggressive, shouting and swearing at officers, saying: "f*** off" and "what the f*** do you want?"

It was discovered later a pair of Nike trainers belonging to neither of the witnesses were found at the back door of the house and a pair of Wellington boots, worth £120, were missing.

Lough had been wearing the Wellingtons when stopped by police.

Lough also pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of Irn-Bru and a can of lemonade from a shop in Alexandria. He denied a charge of acting in a threatening and abusive manner, and shouting, swearing and repeatedly uttering threats of violence.

The items had been stolen from Nazir and Sons Costcutter, Beechwood Drive, on two separate occasions on February 10 and February 12 this year. The court heard he had been in custody since February 16.

Before being sentenced, Lough’s defence agent said he was “remorseful” for the offences and that he had “a history of mental health issues”.

She told the court Lough had stopped taking his medication, and his “behaviour became erratic”.

She added that Lough “appreciated the people involved would be extremely frightened” by his actions.

Sheriff Pender sentenced him to a community payback order and set a date for with a review on June 16, when Lough will be sentenced for the thefts.