A TEENAGER who attacked a man after turning up drunk to a housing support service, and then hurling offensive remarks at cops in Clydebank, is to be closely watched by social workers in the hope they can help her turn her life around.

Jodie Clarke, 18, made repeated threats and attacked a man at the Preparation for Life service earlier this year.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard how Clarke turned up at the HQ of the charity – which provides services to young homeless people across West Dunbartonshire – clearly intoxicated at around 9.30am on March 30.

She had been out the night before without permission.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Reid described how Clarke became involved in a verbal argument with a man at the premises in Alexandria and bumped into him in the lobby.

“The accused pursued him, punching him to the face, causing him to fall while continuing to kick him while on the floor,” said Ms Reid.

The man sustained small cuts to his lip and eyebrow.

Police arrived a short time later and Clarke immediately became aggressive and began shouting and swearing.

She told officers: “F*** off the lot of youse. I’m not f***ing leaving here, you hear me?”
Clarke was warned but continued to be aggressive and told police, when they arrived, to “f*** off”. 

She wasn’t formally charged because of the state she was in.

Then on July 22, Clarke’s mother and the mother’s partner were within a bedroom in a flat in Glasgow Road, Clydebank, and heard Clarke speaking to someone in her bedroom. They told Clarke the other person should leave.

Clarke then opened the door and began shouting and swearing, promoting a call to the police.

Clarke then said: “Imagine phoning the police, ya cow.”

Police arrived and spoke to Clarke, who was shouting within the common close.

They told her she was under arrest. 

While en route to Clydebank police office she continued her tirade, shouting and swearing and calling officers “paedophiles” and “beast”.

Clarke later pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a man and shouting, swearing and refusing to leave Preparation for Life’s premises on March 30. 

She also admitted shouting and swearing aggressively, repeatedly uttering offensive remarks, and repeatedly uttering offensive remarks to police. She was on two bail orders at the time.

Clarke also pleaded guilty to breaching a bail condition not to approach a witness in Clydebank – an offence aggravated because it was against a partner or ex.

At a hearing on November 1, Sheriff Frances McCartney said the West Dunbartonshire Council social work assessment of Clarke’s situation “makes for very concerning reading”.

Defence solicitor Brian Lanigan said the July offences were committed by Clarke at her mum’s home against her mother and her mother’s partner.

He said his client, who abused both alcohol and Valium, had never offended before and had spent 36 days in remand awaiting sentence on the charges.

He said: “It’s fair to say since she was aged about 14, she has had to make her own way in life. 

“She is certainly wanting help.”

Sheriff McCartney put Clarke on a structured deferred sentence until December 8 for social workers to intervene and find options for her.