A GREENOCK man targeted a town centre flat and threatened to torch it before pouring 'liquid' through its letterbox.

Alan Sharp had moments earlier tried to force entry to the property and also repeatedly kicked the front door and struck it with a hammer, or similar instrument.

Sharp, 45, pleaded guilty on indictment at the sheriff court to acting with another person whose identity is meantime unknown at the flat on Regent Street.

His wife Jillian, 40, had been charged along with him on the blaze threat allegation, however, her not guilty plea, tendered through lawyer Aidan Gallagher, was accepted by the Crown.

Her denial of a further charge of being in unlawful possession of a knife was also accepted.

The pleas were agreed while court staff were preparing to empanel a jury for the case going to trial.

Sharp admitted to shouting, swearing, making threats of violence and uttering a further threat to set fire to the flat.

He committed the offence on December 29 in 2019 when he was on bail from September that year regarding another criminal matter.

Sheriff Seith Ireland chose not to near a narration of the facts of the case and deferred sentence on Sharp, of Kilcreggan View, for a social background report and electronic tagging assessment to be prepared.

Sharp's lawyer, Edward Sweeney, reserved his plea in mitigation until the sentencing hearing next month.

Bail has been continued until the next calling of the case on July 13.