A Largs man who brandished a knife at his former flatmate has avoided jail.

Dean Mairs, 32, of Gallowgate Street in the town, pleaded guilty following the incident on Kilmarnock's Glencairn Street on July 28 this year.

He was alleged to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner in that he did "utter a threat of violence towards a man and brandish a knife at him", putting him "in a state of fear and alarm".

The offence was committed while Mairs was on bail for a separate matter, which was granted on April 22.

His solicitor told the court: "He had previously been living at the locus, and is now residing in Largs. His former flatmate was the complainer.

"He doesn't recall the offence due to alcohol use, he acknowledges the seriousness of the offence and having a knife involved. 

"There was a significant gap in his offending from 2011 to 2024, and he managed to hold down employment. He is currently a chef at Nardini's."

Sheriff Murdoch McTaggart told Mairs that he had narrowly avoided jail on this occasion.

He said: "This is a very serious offence, anything involving a knife makes it so. If you had a more significant record you would be going to jail."

Mairs was handed a 12 month supervision order, told to undertake 140 hours of unpaid work, and told to take part in an alcohol treatment programme for the next 12 months.