A banned Linwood driver carrying drugs and a knife was pulled over by cops after he raced past their patrol car.

Colin McIlwraith, 42, was trying to overtake the police vehicle when he pulled into the path of a Transit van towing a caravan, forcing it to swerve to avoid a head-on crash.

He was pulled over by police who soon discovered a stash of cannabis and a blade.

McIlwraith pleaded guilty to careless driving, possessing drugs and a knife on July 2 on the A82 at Stuckgowan Layby between Luss and Tarbet.

He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing and appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday for sentencing.

Fiscal depute Laura Knox said: “When he pulled into the layby the driver stated that he had gotten into a fight and had been overtaken by the police vehicle.

“He then freely admitted that he had driven aggressively after this.”

She said police noticed a strong smell of cannabis and McIlwraith told the officers: “I’ve got a bit and I had a joint hours ago.”

She added: “He then started to fiddle with his pockets. On looking into the rear of the vehicle one of the officers saw him remove a silver knife from his sock and place it in the rear footwell.”

Ms Knox said that when questioned on this, McIlwraith replied: “I’m sorry, I’m stupid. It’s because I’m getting threatened every day on the phone.”

Police searched him and found cannabis valued at £70.

His lawyer told the court that McIlwraith, of Braidwood Place, suffered from mental health issues and had been attending a psychiatrist on and off since 2002. and suffered from paranoia and low moods.

He said McIlwraith had been subjected to threats and was a person who had been picked on for years, initially by school bullies and later by neighbours.

Sheriff Craig Turnbull sentenced McIlwraith to a community payback order involving two years supervision and 125 hours of unpaid work. Four penalty points were added to his licence.