A MAN has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and having a knife in public.

James Docherty appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on June 4 where he admitted charges from March 24 and 25 this year.

The 41-year-old was listed in court papers as a prisoner of Greenock while being from Lancashire, England.

He pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink or drugs in Maryland Road, Dumbarton, without a licence and without insurance. He also had a lockback knife and failed to provide a specimen of blood to determine what was in his system.

Defence solicitor Eugene Boyle said background reports would help with sentencing.

He said his client had been involved in "quite a few matters" after "10-day benders".

Sheriff Seith Ireland said Docherty's criminal record was of "some significance" but that he had not been in trouble in Scotland since 2008.

He called for social workers to report back for July 9 and to consider whether a drug treatment and testing order would be appropriate.

Docherty will remain in custody until sentencing.