A MASKED Irvine man carrying a baseball bat threatened a woman in Alva earlier this year.

Mark McLean, of Lochlibo Court, appeared in Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday in relation to the frightening incident.

He pleaded guilty to the offence while the Crown accepted a not guilty plea to another charge.

On June 15 this year, McLean brandished the weapon on Queen Street, while shouting and swearing at the woman.

The depute fiscal told the court: “At around 1pm the accused attended Queen Street and other residents witnessed this.

His face was masked by a breathing mask and he had a baseball bat.

“He exited his vehicle and began to brandish his bat at a female unknown to the other witnesses.

He uttered words such as ‘you’re a f*****g rat’.”

The fiscal continued: “The accused got into his vehicle and left. Residents were alarmed and phoned the police. It was not the woman who was threatened who phoned the police.”

Officers traced the vehicle and found the breathing mask inside a hold-all, while the baseball bat was found in a bush nearby.

Stephen McGuire, representing the 23-year-old, told the court that his client was a roofer who lived with his father.

He also alleged that the focus of his anger on the day in question was actually a male relative of the female on the scene.

The defence agent also moved to have his client’s bail restrictions changed.

He currently can’t contact the female who was at the scene, but all parties requested that he be able to do so, since she was not the source of his rant and aggression.

Sheriff David Mackie adjourned sentencing for reports but refused to change the bail conditions.

McLean will return to court for sentencing on November 23.