A MAN who smashed the windscreen of a car with a baseball bat while two people were inside has been spared jail.

Jamie Morton was seen swinging the weapon from the passenger seat of a black Ford Fiesta as it overtook the target vehicle, a silver-coloured Vauxhall Astra.

After the cars came to a halt on Greenock's Auchmead Road he stormed towards his victims with the bat raised above his head.

Morton, 22 — a first offender — had seen red after his own car was damaged in an earlier incident, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

Prosecutor Emma Jeffrey said: "The accused ran towards the other vehicle holding the bat above his head and he used it to smash the windscreen of the vehicle.

"He shouted and acted aggressively towards the witnesses.

"One recorded the incident on a mobile phone.

"Another witness, who happened to be travelling in Auchmead Road at the time, contacted police.

"The accused attended voluntarily at Greenock police office."

Morton, of Devon Road, pleaded guilty to shouting, wearing, making threats of violence, acting aggressively and placing a man and woman in states of fear and alarm.

He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon and repeatedly striking the windscreen.

The offences were committed at around 5pm on June 20.

Defence lawyer David Tod said: "It is a matter for which he is heartily sorry.

"There had been an earlier incident whereby Mr Morton's car was damaged.

"Given the lack of record, the fact he is in employment and there are no other matters and that he's fit to do community service, the court could utilise that as an alternative to custody.

"He comes from a family with pro-social values, and they are here to support him in court today."

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Morton: "The court takes very seriously the use of offensive weapons in public places and it is not lost on you that this is a serious matter.

"I'm satisfied that in your circumstances, with no previous convictions and the fact you are clearly someone who is a hard worker with responsibilities that I can deal with this with an alternative to custody."

Morton was ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work within nine months.