A MAN who was caught with garotte-style wire after being found asleep in the middle of a road has been locked up.

Michael Dorrian had the offensive weapon in his jacket pocket as he lay down on Muirdykes Avenue in Port Glasgow at nearly midnight.

Police were called by alarmed motorists who had spotted the dark-clothed 27-year-old on the ground.

Prosecutor Saud Ul Hassan told Greenock Sheriff Court: "At 11.35pm several vehicles were passing and the accused was found to be on the roadway.

"It was dark and it was reported to the police that a male in dark clothing appeared to be asleep on the road.

"Officers arrived and found the accused asleep.

"He was woken and brought to his feet.

"His eyes were glazed, his speech slurred and he was unsteady."

Fiscal depute Mr Ul Hassan added: "He was searched and a garrotte-style wire with a metal ring on each side was recovered from the right hand pocket of his jacket.

"The accused stated: 'It's an offensive weapon, I know I shouldn't have it'."

The incident occurred on July 22 in 2016.

Dorrian, of Muirdykes Avenue, was in court for flouting a community payback order and not turning up to a meeting with a social worker after a sheriff had asked for a follow-up report.

Lawman Derek Hamilton noted that Dorrian had missed a total of seven appointments.

The sheriff told him: "A report was called for and you have not co-operated.

"I will get a report but you will be remanded in custody meantime."

The matter is due to call again on July 18.