Police, paramedics, firefighters and coastguard dashed to Lamont’s Pier in Port Glasgow after McCullough — now a five-time blade offender — triggered a tense 75-minute stand-off following his own 999 call.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how the 48-year-old later ‘revelled’ in his behaviour.

Prosecutor David Glancy said: “He expressed no remorse for what he did, or the inconvenience he had caused.” McCullough, inset, who is banned from contacting women, previously threatened to rape and kill a terrified mum — and shoot her family.

The court was told that the entire Lamont’s Pier episode on the morning of 15 November last year had caused McCullough ‘some amusement’.

However, he was grim-faced in the dock as he was led away to begin a near two-and-a-half-year prison term.

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy said that McCullough had told police at Lamont’s Pier that he was going to ‘slit his wrists and throw himself into the water’.

Mr Glancy added: “He had a black-handled kitchen knife and he made it pretty clear that he didn’t want the police coming any closer.

“The accused demanded that he be sectioned. His tirade was punctuated with threats to harm himself with the knife.” The court heard how a stand-off with two PCs quickly developed into a situation where a ‘full ensemble cast’ had to be called in.

Mr Glancy said: “A police support unit, negotiators, an ambulance, the fire service and the coastguard were all required to become involved.

“McCullough also phoned the police control room, so it was not just those who were there at the pier who were privy to his threats.

“He was persuaded to put the knife down and officers moved in quickly to arrest him.

“The accused revelled in his conduct.

“He was examined at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and there were no concerns for his mental health. A psychological assessment was deemed unecessary.” Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan insisted that McCullough suffered a dip in his mental health after being moved from a homeless centre to a flat in the Port’s Robert Street.

The solicitor said: “In the days leading up to this offence it was recorded that he felt isolated and suicidal.

“His behaviour had its origin in a deterioration in his mental health.” Sheriff Derek Hamilton declared that it was ‘significant’ that McCullough had not sought medical assistance.

The lawman said: “Having read the report on you, I am concerned that you are potentially an extremely dangerous individual.

“You are considered a threat to adult females.

“That, along with your record for assault and weapons offences, is extremely concerning.

McCullough is believed to be the only person in Scotland to whom a specific anti-social behaviour order barring any contact with females applies.

He recently avoided prison on a child pornography charge after police found a sexual abuse photo of a girl believed to be around 10 years of age on a mobile phone they had seized from him.

Sheriff Hamilton, above, told him: “You were once again back on the streets with a knife.

“You are someone who does not get the message that it is unacceptable to carry a weapon.

“The court has an obligation to send out a message to others who might have a knife in public.” McCullough was jailed for 29 months and told he will be placed under strict supervision within the community on his release.