A Dumbarton man drove into a pedestrian he thought was talking about him, a court has heard.

Dominic Sharpe, of High Mains Avenue, assaulted his victim and then failed to give his details to police or a test to see if he was driving drunk.

The 31-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on April 9 over the incident earlier this year.

Two men were walking at Risk Street when Sharpe drove past at speed as they crossed the road on February 24.

Then he reversed and shouted: "Who the f*** are you talking to?"

He reversed about 20 feet before driving at the man, striking him and causing him to hit the bonnet and fall to the ground before Sharpe made off.

"The complainer was shaken up, but initially not injured," said fiscal depute Euan Nicholson.

When police traced Sharpe and asked him to confirm if he was driving, he replied: "I don't have a clue mate."

He was found in possession of keys.

There was a smell of alcohol, slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet. But he refused to take a roadside breath test.

The victim later attended hospital and was found to have a bruised back and ribs.

Sharpe pleaded guilty to assault where he drove at excessive speed, pulled alongside pedestrians, stopped when not required, drove in reverse and then drove at the man and caused the vehicle to strike him.

He also admitted failing to give the identity of the driver of the vehicle as required. And he failed to provide a preliminary specimen of breath.

Defence solicitor Scott Adair said his client did later provide a specimen, coming in at 30mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 22mg.

He said it "probably comes from having drank in the course of the night before into the morning of this incident".

His client has not had alcohol since the incident, he added.

"He is extremely upset at himself at this incident," said Mr Adair. "He went past and heard some comment, probably because of the speed he was driving at, and he reversed and confronted them.

"He has not driven since."

Sheriff James Spy said: "It is fortunate the complainer only suffered a bruised back and ribs."

He imposed a community payback order with 18 months of supervision by social workers. He must also do 220 hours of unpaid work within a year.

Sharpe is banned from driving for 12 months.