A man smashed his way through the door of a bar with a hammer in the early hours of the morning – only to find a worker doing DIY.
Ryan O’Neill, 37, of Gleneagles Street, had sentence deferred for reports after admitting breaking into Lochee Sports Club on High Street, as it was being refurbished.
The court heard a worker who was carrying out repairs and maintenance was playing music and heard noises but carried on working.
Fiscal depute Lynne Mannion told Dundee Sheriff Court the worker then heard a loud banging noise at the main door of the premises – so loud it gave him a fright, she said.
When he looked over he saw a man wearing a two-tone hoodie, carrying a black-handled hammer. The worker reached for his mobile telephone and the hooded male fled, the court heard.
Police arrived about an hour later and found the door frame had been badly damaged.
Pieces of wood were left on the ground and parts of the door were broken.
The fiscal said: “While they were there, another witness appeared and told the officers he had seen the accused and showed them which direction he’d made off in.”
Police traced O’Neill and at the charge bar at police headquarters on West Bell Street, he said: “I’ll bet I can find out where you live.” He added: “Have you got family? We’ll see what happens to your family.”
Solicitor Jim Caird said O’Neill was ashamed of his actions and said he had been heavily under the influence of “some substance”.
He added: “He apologises to everyone concerned.”
O’Neill admitted he broke into the premises with intent to steal on August 17. He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm and making threats of violence and menacing remarks.
Sentence was deferred until October 3 and he was remanded in custody.
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