A FOOTBALLER, who was caught with a machete down his trousers as he visited a friend in hospital, was yesterday ordered to do 100 hours' community service.

Former Hamilton Academical striker Derek McGill, 20, had claimed in court that he was given the weapon by a relative to defend himself following a series of alleged attacks on him and his family, including one incident where a petrol bomb was thrown at his home.

McGill, of Greenlaw Avenue, Wishaw, who is now unemployed, claimed he was forced to move home five times after the alleged attacks.

He claimed the attacks started after he had been cited as a prosecution witness at the High Court in Airdrie. Once he had given evidence, he said, the attacks escalated and, on the day police found him with the machete, he alleged a gun had been pointed at him. He told the court he had reported the incident to the police.

The court heard that McGill was so terrified that he visited his uncle who gave him the machete and some valium and, after taking the tablets, his reasoning powers were affected.

He admitted being found in possession of an offensive weapon at Law Hospital, Carluke, on June 17 last year when he visited a friend recovering from stab wounds inflicted during an incident at Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Sheriff John Douglas Allan had refused to pass sentence at an earlier hearing until the procurator-fiscal had obtained a police report verifying allegations about the alleged attacks on McGill and his family.

Depute-fiscal Aline Williamson told the court how a police detective had confirmed the petrol bomb had taken place - not at McGill's own home but at the home of his uncle.

As McGill left the court yesterday, he said: ``I just want to get back to my football. I know of a few clubs who are interested in taking me on for pre-season training so hopefully something will come of that.''

McGill had been with Hamilton Academical as a striker for two years before leaving last July.

In passing sentence Sheriff Allan said: ``This case has given me considerable anxiety for reasons which must be obvious in that people who arm themselves with a weapon do so with the intent to use it.''

Sheriff Allan ordered the machete to be destroyed.