PROSECUTORS have been told to get their case against a Greenock man accused of jamming a Coastguard emergency radio channel with hoax distress calls over a period of 18 days 'sorted'.

Three trial diets for the near two-year-old matter against Michael McGlynn to be dealt with have had to be postponed due to police 'difficulty' in obtaining recordings and because they can only be played on Coastguard equipment.

McGynn, 39, is charged with repeatedly sending transmissions he knew to be false in November 2022 'for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety' to the rescue service.

The latest calling of the case at Greenock Sheriff Court heard that the audio evidence is on Coastguard systems and is 'excessive in length' - lasting around six hours.

The hearing was told that the protracted proceedings - which have already been held up on a number of occasions - would have to be further delayed due to problems with playing the recordings of the calls.

A procurator fiscal depute said: "The disc is now available but cannot be played other than on Coastguard equipment.

"Other than getting Coastguard equipment to court we have no way to play it.

"This is something the Crown will have to investigate further."

McGlynn, of James Watt Way, maintained a denial of the charge through solicitor Ellen Macdonald.

Sheriff Sean Lynch rejected a bid by lawyer Ms Macdonald to throw out the case after it was claimed that it is causing McGlynn 'difficulty at work and affecting various promotions he is going for', since he has to disclose the ongoing matter to his employers.

Two previous scheduled trial diets were pushed back due to police not being able to obtain the alleged hoax call recordings.

Sheriff Lynch said: "Public interest suggests that this matter should proceed.

"The Crown are really going to have to get this sorted."

A new trial date has been set for November 5.