A YOUNG man who had a hammer outside his former home in Irvine has been sentenced.

Kyle Hood, who is currently living in Ardrossan, previously pleaded guilty to having the offensive weapon in a public place without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority at Stronsay Way on May 20 this year.

The 19-year-old appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentencing. 

His lawyer Simon Brown said: "I think essentially a young man who let things run away from him and not quite realise the level of trouble he is in.

"He seems to have drifted and not realised the significance of court appearances. [The offence] is described in the [social work] report as money owed. People came to collect that money.

"He went out the back door and was caught by police running away, but he had the item with him and he shouldn't of had that.

"He is a young man and this is the entirety of his criminal behaviour."

Sheriff Laura Mundell put Hood on a structured deferred sentence with a review in three months time.