The trial of a Beith man accused of the domestic abuse of his partner - by berating her and threatening to damage her car with a knife - has been postponed.

Alisdair Mckinnon, of Bellmans Close, is said to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards Diane McCune at her home in October.

It’s claimed that, between October 18 and 19, McKinnon repeatedly shouted at her, kicked her car, threatened to damage it with a knife, took the vehicle without her consent and damaged an unspecified “household item”.

McKinnon maintains his innocence and was due to go on trial yesterday (Tuesday).

As well as the charge of shouting at her and threatening her, which is brought under Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and was allegedly aggravated by involving abuse of his partner, as per Section 1 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2010, he faces four other charges.

Prosecutors claim he was also unfit to drive, through drink or drugs, while in her home street - Hartfield Road, Paisley.

He is also said to have been driving a car that did not have an MOT, failed to cooperate with a roadside breath test, and failed to provide two breath specimens at the police station.

Those remaining four charges are brought under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

But the trial did not begin as planned at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday (TUES), and was adjourned until March.