An Ayr man who told police he would "shoot them if he had a gun" when they found him passed out on his floor of his home has been spared more time behind bars.

Robin Scott lashed out after police made a welfare call at his home in the town.

The 54-year-old had been warned he faced spending the winter in prison - but after telling a judge he would accept help with his alcohol consumption, he was handed a community-based punishment instead.

The Advertiser previously reported Scott had initially failed to turn up for a court hearing on the charges of threatening or abusive behaviour at his previous address in Mill Street on July 21.

He had been remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing just before Christmas.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “The locus was the accused’s home address. At 12.30pm officers attended after welfare concerns for the accused.

“Officers entered the property through the unsecured door.

“The accused was seen lying under a piece of furniture. He appeared to be in difficulty.

“They attempted to speak to the accused who became agitated. He shouted: “Get out my house you p***ks - you’re worse than the devil."

He added: “See if I had a gun, I would f***ing shoot you.”

The fiscal depute continued: “He was arrested and conveyed to Kilmarnock police office.”

Scott's defence solicitor said: "This comes at the tail end of a significant number of matters.

"Despite difficulties with the social work report he has been assessed as fit to engage in court proceedings and plead guilty."

Sheriff Desmond Leslie told Scott: "You need to try to work with people to help you deal with your drinking. Will you do that?"

When Scott signified that he would, the sheriff added: "At the end of the day it will be to your benefit. You are just going to end up killing yourself.

"You've been in jail. You know what it's like. This is the type of offending that will result in you back there.

"This is behavour that needs controlled for the protection of the community.

"So it's up to you."

Scott, now of Davidson Place, was placed on a community payback order with 18 months of supervision from social workers.