A MAN has pleaded guilty to sectarian and homophobic abuse while having a knife in Dumbarton's High Street.

Graeme Connolly kicked off when police were called to the Aladdin takeaway after reports of a man refusing to leave just after 2am on June 17, 2023.

Officers arrived and saw a man walking in their direction, shouting. They could tell he was intoxicated.

"Get the f*** away from me," he shouted. He was warned but continued shouting and swearing.

"I have done f*** all wrong," said Connolly, of Glencairn Road, Dumbarton.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard he called them "c**ts", "a*seholes" and saying "You better f*** off or else".

Once he was handcuffed, police recovered a silver-handled lockknife.

While en route to Clydebank police office, he continued his abusive behaviour, calling officers "F*nian c**ts", "p*ofs", "wh*res" and "benders".

He said: "I'm going to kill you and your family."

Connolly wasn't charged at the time due to his level of intoxication.

On November 26, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to acting in an aggressive manner, shouting, swearing and uttering threats and abusive remarks. This was aggravated by prejudice relating to disability, sexual orientation and religion, He also admitted having a knife.

The Crown accepted he was not guilty of failing to tell police he had a weapon on him.

Defence solicitor Kenny McGowan said his client was on an existing community payback order.

He said Connolly was working for Chivas at the time of the offence and had the item for work - but his behaviour removed any reasonable excuse for having the blade.

Sheriff Frances McCartney deferred sentence for reports until December 17.