A MAN who committed a series of knife offences at Tesco has been released into the community to be assessed for drug treatment after a sheriff heard how he'd been 'brave' in confronting his issues.

Caile McCabe, 29, was caught with a lock-back knife at the supermarket's filling station in Port Glasgow at 4.15am and was found just weeks later to have a blade with a makeshift handle of red tape at the store itself.

McCabe, jailed previously for pulling out a sword during a daylight street attack in the town, then breached a bail order to stay away from the supermarket — just a day after being allowed his liberty on that specific condition.

His lawyer, Amy Spencer, told a sentencing hearing: "My submission is for the court to follow the recommendation in the background report for the matter to be continued for a drug treatment and testing order assessment [DTTOA].

"I appreciate the charges are of a very serious nature, and on one view it would be an unusual action to call for such an assessment in the circumstances.

"His mental health is extremely poor, there is no denying that.

"He has been extremely honest with the author of the report and extremely brave in discussing some of the matters."

Solicitor Ms Spencer added: "He has already spent the equivalent of a 14-month prison sentence on remand.

"He could be given a backdated prison sentence, but when he gets out his issues will remain.

"In my submission there is a glimmer of hope that he has not given up on himself and that he can be a better person.

"When he is sober and not in a chaotic lifestyle he is capable of staying out of trouble."

McCabe committed his latest blade offences in October and November last year.

He told police during the early hours lock-back knife incident that he had been using it for cutting laminate flooring and claimed the makeshift knife he had subsequently was for cutting carpet.

McCabe was involved in 2016 in an attack on a dad-of-two who was out walking with a one-year-old child, who fell from a pushchair during the shocking incident on the Port's Greenock Road.

His co-accused at the time repeatedly tried to strike the victim with a bottle while McCabe pulled the two foot long sword from the waistband of his trousers.

An eyewitness to the attack — which caused a large tailback of traffic — told afterwards how he thought he was about to witness a murder.

McCabe was admonished last year after going to a the home of a man on Robert Street and making threats of violence.

Sheriff Michael Higgins further deferred sentence on him for the drug treatment and testing assessment to be carried out.

The sheriff told him: "This would be of benefit to you and the greater community.

"It is clear you have a drug problem that needs to be addressed."

McCabe has been granted bail with a 7pm to 7am home curfew and a ban from Tesco in Port Glasgow while he is assessed.

The case is due to call again in court on August 10.