AN ASPIRING Renfrew boxer's car burst into flames after he crashed it into road lighting.

David Kelly was driving his Audi A4 at excessive speed in the early hours of the morning on October 1 last year towards the junction of Dumbarton Road and Miller Street in Clydebank.

He veered towards the side of the road where he struck a pedestrian crossing post.

The 32-year-old, of Crofton Square, then applied the brakes, but the car spun 180 degrees and hit lighting at the central reservation before bursting into flames.

Members of the public standing outside Chandler's pub called 999 as they removed Kelly from the car.

When police attended the scene, Kelly immediately became hostile and verbally aggressive. 

He challenged the cops to a fight and said "f***ing c***s" and "I'll f***ing do both of you".

Kelly was warned by officers but he refused to calm down.

On his way to hospital, he continued to act aggressively shouting "you're a f***ing rat" and "f*** off you f***ing bam".

The doctor attempted to assess him but he refused treatment so was taken back to Clydebank police station.

It was there he hit one cop on his right knee and a second officer on her hand.

Kelly appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to dangerously driving the car at high speed, colliding with a pedestrian crossing and decorative lighting on the central reservation all whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

He also admitted to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence as well as two charges of assault on police officers.

His lawyer said: "He accepted full responsibility for his actions. He has genuine remorse and is not minimising his actions.

"There is a change in his attitude since the commission of this offence. Some good can come out of some bad. He has turned his life around in many ways. He has always had this ambition to be a boxer and that was taken away from him.

"On the eve of his first professional fight, he was required to undergo a medical and at that point in time, he failed the medical. 

"I think things spiralled out of control after that. He built up so much from his own determination physically and mentally to be told that would not take place. In a classic way, he went off the rails. He is now completely alcohol and drug-free."

Sheriff Lindsey Kooner replied: "He should recognise that this is very much a custody threshold."

The sheriff disqualified him for 655 days.

And as a direct alternative to custody, he was placed on a community payback order with 18 months of social work supervision and conduct requirement to attend alcohol addiction counselling.

He was also ordered to complete 270 hours of unpaid work.

The sheriff added: "It is a deeply concerning course of conduct. You have caused significant damage to property in Clydebank, to yourself, and no doubt to other members of the public who had to assist you.

"You have also behaved badly within a hospital and thereafter assaulted police officers who were trying to assist you. Before I listened to [your solicitor] my view was that I had no alternative to custody."