A THUG has been jailed for 17 months after threatening to kill two teenage parents and their seven-month-old baby.

Andrew McCracken, 33, of Langloan Street, Coatbridge, had been released from prison on licence just months earlier having served a four-year sentence from the High Court in Glasgow.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that McCracken began shouting at a 15-year-old mum with her child outside a shop in Whifflet Street, Coatbridge.

She called her partner, who was also 15, to help her and McCracken, who had been drinking, attacked him after threatening to go to their house and "do them in".

Janice Green, prosecuting, said: "He then turned on the young boy, flicked a cigarette at him and punched and kicked him after the boy fell to the ground.

"A passer-by separated them and the boy ran into the shop and police were called. McCracken was arrested."

The incident in September 2006 happened after McCracken had been released on licence in October 2005.

Brian Mohan, defending, said McCracken's licence had since been revoked and he had been sent back to serve the rest of his prison sentence.

He added: "On this day his temper got the better of him and he reacted badly."

Yesterday McCracken pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner and threatening the teenagers and baby.

He also admitted assaulting the father in September last year. At the time, McCracken was also on bail, an order imposed on him nine days earlier.

Sentencing McCracken, Sheriff Robert H. Dickson told him: "Given the nature of the offences a custodial sentence is inevitable."