A FORMER Saltcoats man threatened a 65-year-old Stagecoach bus driver with a metal pole in Irvine.

A woman and her young children, who were on board the bus at the time, were left terrified by David Kirk’s shocking attack.

Kirk, 29, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by acting aggressively towards the bus driver in Dickson Drive on March 10 last year.

He kicked the front of the bus, pulled at one of the vehicle’s windscreen wipers and repeatedly kicked the door of the bus in an attempt to gain entry.

He also brandished a metal pole in a threatening manner, indicating that he was going to throw it through a window of the bus.

The charge, to which Kirk previously pleaded guilty, stated that he caused fear and alarm to the bus driver and its passengers, including a woman who was named in the charge and her children.

Kirk, formerly of Caledonia Avenue, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for sentencing on Wednesday.

It was told in the hearing that he breached a community payback order for an offence where he threw a brick at a car and utter threats to damage the property at Winton Avenue in Kilwinning.

The offence which took place on August 27, 2022 saw the Irvine man act in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting and causing £300 worth of damage to the motor vehicle.

The lawyer said: "[The social work report] sites his acceptance of his responsibility for the offences.

"Behind it all was the consumption of cocaine and Valium at a very heavy level at the time of both offences. He is in a stable new relationship and resides in Irvine.

"He is assessed as someone who remains suitable for unpaid work. He has been disguising his difficulties he had been having with the misuse of substances. He has been able to open about that.

"It would be a possibility of the court to allow the opportunity of a community-based order that would enable him to work with social work officers with a view to tackling the drug misuse he has been experiencing."

"The passengers on the bus must have been quite alarmed. His behaviour was influenced by the misuse of substances. It was a simply an issue of rage."

Addressing Kirk, Sheriff Mundell said: "I am still in two minds here whether or not you should simply be going to prison. At the time it must have been a very alarming experience.

"I have just been persuaded to step back from doing that and deal with these cases in another way. If you are back in court again I don't think you will leave a sheriff with any alternative."

As a direct alternative to prison Kirk, of Dixon Drive, was placed on a community payback order under social work supervision for 12 months and ordered to complete 210 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £300 in compensation which he was allowed to do at £50 per month.

The sheriff allowed the CPO for the 2022 offence continue so Kirk can complete the 24 hours of unpaid work outstanding.