A MAN who tried to get rid of a crowbar during a foot chase with police officers in Kilmarnock has been jailed.

Andrew Kirkwood, formerly of Witchknowe Avenue, was caught breaching his court bail conditions on October 16 this year after he was found on Cruachan Place.

The 41-year-old appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday from custody after previously pleading guilty to having an offensive weapon in a public place without a reasonable excuse.

The procurator fiscal told the hearing that at around 12.35am police received an anonymous call about a man brandishing a sword or a crowbar outside a property window.

When police attended they spotted Kirkwood walking onto Merrick Road, but when saw the officers he ran off - and threw the weapon onto a path.

He was chased on foot and eventually upon his arrest noted that he was in breach of his court curfew.

The fiscal added that a black-handled crowbar was later recovered.

He committed these offences whilst granted bail from Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on May 16 last year and April 11 this year.

At the court hearing his defence solicitor Graeme Cunningham said: “[The social work report] does not much for good reading.

"On that day his behaviour whilst it was appalling it was a combination of alcohol and probably other substances.

“He has had a period of custody since October 16 and he has the opportunity to address his issues. He has not taken anything while he was in there and has distanced himself from that.

“I wonder if you will give him one last chance to co-operate and engage with an order to see how he gets on.”

Sheriff Laura Mundell said: “I had been on the cusp of remanding Mr Kirkwood but these offences especially being in possession of a crowbar in a public place were committed 12 days after I granted him the privilege of being on bail in the first place.

“So, my degree of confidence and trust with him is low. I think you will struggle to persuade me on what to do with these matters.”

Addressing Kirkwood, the sheriff added: “I have taken note of what your solicitor invited me to consider doing but from my view the serious nature of these matters, the proximity of time between the offences committed, and your record are such that it is only appropriate to send you to prison.”

He was jailed for four months backdated from October 16.