A MAN who took a motorbike on a dangerous rampage around Dalmuir has never held a driving licence, a court has been told.

Joseph Merry drove the bike dangerously and at excessive speeds on Singer Road, Duntocher Road, Dumbarton Road and Swindon Street on June 6 last year.

The 25-year-old admitted failing to stop at red traffic lights and causing the bike to travel into the path of oncoming vehicles during the journey.

Merry appeared in court on Friday for sentencing – not only on the motoring offences, but also for a series of other crimes, including drug possession, having a knife in a public place, and breaching a court-imposed curfew.

He had previously admitted being in possession of a lockback knife in Ashton View, Dumbarton, on January 26 last year, being outside his bail address at Melbourne House, Mountblow on February 21 during a 7pm-7am curfew, and being in possession of cannabis in Glasgow Road in Clydebank on January 8 this year.

Merry’s solicitor, Graeme Brown, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court his client had been remanded in custody since the day of the cannabis discovery, and said Merry hoped to make a fresh start with a move to the Drumchapel area.

Mr Brown told Friday’s hearing: “He accepts that dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and being in possession of a knife are particularly serious offences.

“On the road traffic matters, he says he has never had a licence – not even a provisional licence.”

Sheriff William Gallacher imposed a two-month jail term for the cannabis charge – reduced from three because of Merry’s guilty plea – and backdated to January 8.

On the knife possession and bail breach offences, Merry was placed on a community payback order (CPO) with 18 months of social work supervision, with a conduct requirement which states that he must attend counselling and/or treatment for addiction issues.

Click here for all the latest news from Clydebank and the surrounding areas

As a punishment, he was also told to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within six months.

On the motoring charges, sentence was deferred for good behaviour until April 7.

The CPO will be reviewed on the same date.