A GREENOCK man who verbally abused social workers at a town centre pub has been placed on a supervision order by a sheriff.

Roy Sweeney admitted to repeatedly shouting, swearing, behaving aggressively and making offensive remarks towards two women at the James Watt Wetherspoon on Cathcart Street.

The 45-year-old committed the offence on October 4, 2022.

His solicitor, Paul Cook, told a sentencing hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court this week that the incident was caused by Sweeney's 'stress and upset'.

The lawyer said his client, who has a 'limited' record of previous convictions, had been assessed as presenting a low risk of reoffending.

Sentencing Sweeney to a community payback order, Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told him that social workers provided an 'invaluable public service'.

He added: "It is completely unacceptable that when they are carrying out that public service they are subjected to any abuse, much less the behaviour that you indulged in during this particular offence."

Sweeney, of Poplar Street, was given a year to complete 70 hours of unpaid work and he will also be supervised by the criminal justice social work department for the next 12 months.