A MASKED thug armed himself with two machetes as he went on a manhunt to track someone down in Port Glasgow.

Darren Tonner — whose face was covered with a balaclava and a scarf — was 'completely off the rails', Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

Tonner had taken booze and drugs before going out 'looking for someone' who had been involved in a dispute with his cousin.

The 23-year-old is now beginning a 14-month prison sentence - but was told he would have been facing four years or more behind bars if he'd had previous convictions.

Tonner had been spotted in the vicinity of the cycle track, near Gareloch Road in the Port, by two community wardens who immediately alerted police on November 3 last year.

Prosecutor Saud Ul Hassan said: "The cycle track is often frequented by youths and there were around 30 to 40 youths in the vicinity.

"Police were called and several officers attended.

"Police instructed the accused to stop, however, he continued running and was seen to discard items in foliage."

The court heard that following his arrest Tonner became verbally abusive towards an officer at Greenock police office.

Fiscal depute Mr Ul Hassan said: "He stated, 'Wait till I get these cuffs off, I'm gonnae rip yer heid aff'.

"The accused added, 'You're nothing but fat, bald and speccy — I'll kill you'."

Tonner pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful possession of a 'quantity of knives' and threatening and abusive behaviour.

He admitted to being in possession of cocaine with intent to supply and a further blade offence, committed at Nicolson Street, Greenock, on February 6.

A lockback knife was recovered during a search, along with bags of the Class A narcotic he had in a rucksack.

Defence lawyer Ellen Macdonald said: "His cousin was involved with others and Mr Tonner armed himself and went out.

"He had taken drink and valium and he had developed a problem with cocaine.

"This shows a young man completely off the rails.

"He was selling to others to feed his habit and also to pay off debt."

The court heard how Tonner — who was remanded in custody in February — had returned to Inverclyde last November after six years in the catering industry elsewhere.

Solicitor Ms Macdonald said: "He had a good work history,

"He is well aware of the court's viewpoint on the possession of weapons and is realistic that he will receive a custodial sentence.

"It is his intention to thereafter leave Greenock and go back to his employment."

Sheriff Thomas Ward told Tonner: "You should be aware that there is a major problem with possession of knives, and this is how people get murdered.

"The only reason your sentence is not one of four years or more is because you have no other convictions to speak of."