A man claimed he was triggered to choke his long-time friend in a terrifying ordeal after a night out.

John Lundie, of Simpson Quadrant, Alexandria, assaulted his friend of 10 years after they had been on a night out on May 7, last year.

The procurator fiscal at Dumbarton Sheriff Court told how Lundie and his friend were out drinking at a pub.

At around 10pm that evening the pair returned to her home in Renton to continue drinking. A few hours later, Lundie asked if he could stay in her bed, but she denied the request.

She organised a bed for him in her living room before heading to her own bed.

Early the next morning, she was awoken by him entering her bedroom, leaning over her and putting his hands around her neck "in an attempt to strangle her".

Despite being distressed, she managed to free her legs from under the duvet that he was leaning on, after several attempts of kicking out at him.

Police were then contacted and forced entry where they found Lundie heavily intoxicated, so arrested him and took him to Clydebank police station.

He was released on an undertaking with conditions not to contact the woman, but on the same date, she received calls from Lundie.

When she answered, she heard him crying and he stated that he didn't remember what happened and he needed a taxi. She contacted a taxi to take him to her house.

At around 9.30am, he forced entry into her property where he fell asleep for almost six hours.

Police were contacted and managed to trace him in a nearby park a short time later.

He said to them 'Well I had to get my clothes' and 'It cost me £12 in a taxi to get back to Renton'.

The 37-year-old appeared in the dock on April 11 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman by leaning over her, placing his hand around her neck, compressing it and pushing down on her throat.

The first offender also admitted to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by repeatedly shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence.

He also admitted to a further charge of failing to comply with conditions not to approach or communicate with the woman when he attended her property. 

Stephen Maguire, defending, said: "He appreciates the seriousness of the case. There is no obvious trigger for why this assault took place as they had known each other for a long time. Something has happened which triggered him, but he doesn't know what it is.

"At the time he was still struggling with alcohol. After being released by police he was still under the influence and didn't know what was happening from the previous night. The relationship is now damaged beyond repair and he now has to accept that.

"He is a first offender and I don't think he will trouble the courts again. He is utterly mortified about this situation.

Sheriff Lindsey Kooner said: "The custody threshold has been met in this situation. As far as you appear you have taken this matter very seriously as you should do because this was a lady who was offering you hospitality in terms of letting you stay with her for a while, but what the trigger is remains a mystery.

"I am persuaded given you have no record and what I read in the [social work] report and you have accepted full responsibility that there is a direct alternative in this case."

As a direct alternative to custody, the sheriff placed Lundie on a community payback order for 12 months under social work supervision and ordered him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £350 compensation to the victim.