A KILWINNING man is awaiting sentence after he admitted being caught in possession of a knife in his hometown.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court was told that George McKnight came out with the blade after a group chasing him up on his drug debts came to "intimidate his mother" - and he wanted to "scare them off".

The blade possession charge was one of two admissions made by the 32-year-old, who is currently remanded within Kilmarnock Prison on another matter, when he appeared in the dock on Tuesday, October 1.

The Kilwinning man, formerly of Cambusdoon Place, also pleaded guilty to a further charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards police constables.

Both matters arose from one initial incident, that took place around the home of McKnight's mother - which is within the proximity of Kilwinning town centre.

Procurator fiscal depute Jaide Podlesny told the court that shortly before 2pm on August 20 last year, a man living within a neighbouring property heard shouting from the street outside his home.

Upon looking out of his window, the witness noticed McKnight and other males confronting one another outside, armed with weapons.

He then contacted police who arrived shortly afterwards. The witness then invited officers into his home to view CCTV footage which captured the altercation.

Officers watched the footage, which initially showed McKnight entering a garden shared by four properties within the street.

McKnight was then seen running around to the front of the homes, holding an item within his trouser waistband.

He then ran towards a white van which had pulled into the street and stopped before a group of three males exited the vehicle.

McKnight reached into his waistband and produced a "large knife" - described in court as a blade "three times the size of his fist" - before the other males left the area.

After viewing the footage, McKnight was traced shortly afterwards, the same day, and arrested.

He committed his second offence the next day.

Custody officers on duty at Saltcoats police office had come to a cell within the station which was occupied by him.

They informed McKnight that he would be leaving to appear at court soon and should begin getting ready.

(Image: Staff)

McKnight initially told the officers that he was "going nowhere" but later agreed to get ready.

However, when doing so he launched a "verbal tirade" at the officers and those working nearby.

He told them he “wouldn’t p**s on them if they were on fire" and repeatedly called them “scumbags” and “pigs”.

McKnight also remarked:  “I will f*****g do the lot of yous. Pigs. Get a real job."

When being taken from his cell to a police van, the Kilwinning man continued to abuse the officers and told one “I’ll do you, you wee p***k”.

At the van, he also slammed the cell door closed - and once within attempted to punch a police constable.

McKnight was eventually locked within the cell van where he continued to act out.

Defending, the 32-year-old's solicitor explained that he had a "longstanding alcohol and drug addiction problem".

He said McKnight had fallen back into this recently following the breakdown of his relationship.

They added: "On date in question the van appeared at the locus chasing some sort of drug debt.

"The people from the van got out and came into the garden. One was in possession of a hammer and another a shovel.

"They had come to intimidate his mother because of the debt he owed. They didn’t know he would be there.

"He accepts he armed himself with a weapon ‘to scare them off’. That seemed to have the desired effect.

"His behaviour that took place the next day was quite disgraceful. Those officers were simply doing their job."

Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart agreed to delay sentencing for reports to be prepared, with McKnight now due to return to court at a later date.