AN IRVINE man has avoided a jail sentence after throwing a plant pot at a door in a fit of rage.

Ian Docherty, 49, was instead placed on a community payback order (CPO) and a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) when his case called in court.

Docherty, of the town's Jermond Drive, was handed the sentence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to one charge in relation to an incident on Queens Drive in Irvine between November 4-5 this year.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour towards his partner by repeatedly shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner.

Court papers describing the incident add that the Irvine man also kicked, and throw a plant pot, at the front door of a property on the street in an attempt to gain entry.

The offence was aggravated because the complainer was Docherty's partner.

Docherty's CPO will see him put under social work supervision for a period of 12 months; he was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work over the same time period.