An Angus mechanic lost the rag after a neighbour sought the advice of other experts in a row over a burnt out clutch.
Ian Proctor had previously repaired the car, but when the clutch subsequently failed again he got into a row with the customer, brandishing a torque wrench in what a lawyer described as “an unusual approach to customer complaints”.
The 27-year-old accused, from Arbroath, was recovering from a broken ankle at the time and after putting the “out of character” offence down to the effects of that has been told to stay out of trouble for six months by a sheriff.
Proctor, of Warddykes Avenue, appeared before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar where he admitted breaching the peace near his home on November 13, brandishing a metal pole and making threats.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the incident was sparked after text messages between the accused and the complainer, in which Proctor expressed anger that the man had consulted other mechanics about the repair.
Proctor then phoned the man and said: “You won’t have a car tomorrow ‘cos I’m going to smash it up.”
Mr Kermode said the complainer’s partner then went to get the keys of the vehicle, leading to further words being exchanged and the accused brandishing a torque wrench.
That led to another argument between Proctor and the car’s owner, followed by a brief scuffle after the man put his hands on the wrench to stop it being used as a weapon.
Police were called and, when arrested, Proctor said: “How can a tool be an offensive weapon?”
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “It is a slightly unusual approach to customer complaints.
“He carried out some work on a neighbour’s car a few months before this  and it was done without difficulty, but the clutch burned out.
“Mr Proctor agreed he would fit another clutch, but there was a dispute over who should pay for it.
“The car that the dispute is over is still there and is not driveable.”
He added: “This seems to be entirely out of character.
“He was on fairly heavy duty painkillers because of his broken foot and was fairly short-tempered generally.”
Deferring sentence until July, Sheriff Di Emidio told Proctor: “On reflection, you will hopefully appreciate that this is not a terribly smart way to go about dealing with someone who engaged you to do some work.
“It was an incident which could easily have been much worse given the way it developed and it is perhaps fortunate that didn’t happen.
“You haven’t previously offended in this way, but is is important to ensure that the dust has settled here.”
