A MAN charged with arming himself with a machete and targeting a Greenock flat whilst masked has been released on bail by a sheriff.

Andrew Duffy was arrested and held in police custody accused of going to the property on Cathcart Street and placing people in a state of fear and alarm.

It is alleged that the 37-year-old — and co-accused James Harkins, 43 — went to the front door of the property with their faces masked on April 13.

Sheriff Owen McGinty decided to free Duffy on bail after the pair appeared before him at Paisley.

The Telegraph revealed last week how other alleged criminals apprehended on serious charges — including for offensive weapons — have been released on undertakings to appear at court on future dates.

Special operational measures are in place as the coronavirus emergency continues but Inverclyde's most senior police officer, Chief Superintendent Alan Murray, says that lawbreakers are being 'dealt with appropriately'.

Machete-accused Duffy and Harkins are said to have shouted and swore and repeatedly struck the front door of the Cathcart Street flat, placing those inside in a state of fear and alarm.

Police were called to a disturbance at Cathcart Street at around 9.45pm.

Duffy, of Cathcart Street, has been charged with having a machete as an offensive weapon within the common close, whilst Harkins is accused of brandishing a machete at police officers and then struggling violently with them.

Both men made no plea through lawyer Aidan Gallagher and the case has been continued for further examination.

Harkins, of Port Glasgow, has been remanded in custody.

In a statement released to the Telegraph last week, Superintendent Murray said: "Police Scotland is working closely with partners in criminal justice to ensure that people breaking the law will be dealt with appropriately, including being kept in custody when appropriate and taking into account specific circumstances surrounding individual incidents.

"Police Scotland will continue to deal effectively with criminality and report cases to the procurator fiscal in the usual way.

"Where people are released on undertaking, they will be subject to rigorous conditions to ensure the public is kept safe from risk and harm."