A CUMNOCK man who smashed a car window with a metal pole – while his neighbour and a baby were inside the vehicle avoided more time in custody.

Ian Drummond, 33, carried out the attack in the town’s Barshare Road. Drummond pleaded guilty to the charge before returning for sentencing last week.

The procurator fiscal depute told that the witness was in the car with their seven-month-old son when Drummond approached.

The court was told that after the witness shouted “there is a child in the car”, Drummond replied: “I don’t give a f***.”

The witness was injured as a result of the attack, which was carried out on September 11, 2021.

Drummond pleaded guilty to charges of culpable and reckless conduct and possession of an offensive weapon.

Drummond, who was listed in court papers as an inmate at HMP Kilmarnock, was previously remanded in custody last year, but was later granted bail before entering his pleas of guilty.

Sheriff MacTaggart told Drummond she would defer sentence for a full range of criminal justice social work reports.

The recently-liberated Drummond was allowed to remain on bail.

When he returned for sentencing last week, defence solicitor Alex Muir Drummond was ‘keen to undertake unpaid work’.

He added: “He’s been trying to get himself into work. He was last in forestry.

“There is nothing else outstanding”.

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: “Mr Drummond, standing your record, the easy thing would be to send you to custody - but that’s not going to break the cycle is it?

“At 33, do you really want to spend your life in court or prison?

“As a direct alternative to custody, you will be put on a community payback order again for two years.

“You will do unpaid work, to give structure to your day, for 180 hours.”

Sheriff MacTaggart added: “I’m not going to fix any reviews. I want Mr Drummond to get used to not coming to court.”