A moneylender threatened a Perth couple while wielding an axe after they refused to pay their son’s outstanding £450 debt.
The terrified couple called police when Andrew Donaldson pulled up outside their home and brandished the weapon, saying he would smash their son’s skull in.
Donaldson threw his arms wide in an explosion-style gesture and told the pair: “I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands.”
The 40-year-old, from Methven, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on July 3 last year.
He also pled guilty to having an offensive weapon in public.
Donaldson, of Culdeesland Road, was told to prepare for jail.
Refused to pay
The court heard Donaldson had loaned money to a workmate and arrived outside his family home in Perth’ Muircroft Terrace West to collect the debt.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said: “At 2pm, (the male) was in his front garden when the accused pulled up in a blue car, driven by his father.
“The accused asked if he was Owen’s dad, and he confirmed that he was.”
Ms Hodgson said: “The accused then advised that his son owed him £450.
“He had arranged to meet him at the property to pay back the money.”
The woman then stepped out of the house to check what was going on.
Neither knew who Donaldson was.
“The couple refused to pay any money to the accused,” said Ms Hodgson.
Donaldson told them: “Well, I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands.”
He said: “I’ll just smash his skull in, I’ve done it before.”
And then: “I’ve got an axe in the car.”
The fiscal depute said Donladson was told the house was protected by CCTV.
“The accused returned to the car, took out a yellow-handled axe and showed it to the complainers.
“He then put the axe back in the car and returned to the garden.”
Ms Hodgson said: “During the exchange, the accused had his mobile phone out and appeared to be desperately trying to contact the couple’s son.
“The accused then made a gesture… inferring there would be an explosion at the property.”
The court was shown CCTV of the altercation.
Axe was ‘for fishing’
The couple called police but Donaldson and his father drove off before officers arrived.
The men were later tracked down in a supermarket car park.
“The accused was cooperative with police,” said Ms Hodgson.
He told them: “I knew you are looking for an axe. It’s in there (the car).
“I had it at the house because I wanted to scare him.”
Donaldson’s father told officers the axe was “for fishing”.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence until February 8 for background reports.
He said: “I have to tell you that a custodial sentence is uppermost in my mind right now.
“I’m just warning you that you should have arrangements in place, just in case.”
A solicitor for Donaldson, who works in the motor home sales industry, said he had “kept his nose clean” since the incident.
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