An Arbroath man who repeatedly struck another man with a hammer narrowly avoided jail at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Peter Williamson, 39, admitted that he assaulted his neighbour Richard Vincent Martin with the weapon at North Grimsby in Arbroath on December 8 last year.
Defence agent Billy Rennie told the court that two days prior to the incident, Williamson had removed the hammer from Martin who had been “waving it around, threatening to use it”.
He said that on December 8, Martin had approached Williamson to ask for the hammer back.
“Williamson told him ‘no, you are dangerous with a hammer,” said Mr Rennie.
“Because Williamson didn’t give the hammer back, Martin headbutted him.
“Around 10 minutes later, Williamson then took the hammer back to the complainer but there was still animosity and he struck Martin.”
The alarm was raised by a member of staff at the homeless unit.
When police arrived both men had injuries.
Martin had a small superficial laceration to the left side bridge of his nose and also a half circle open would to the top of his head which appeared approximately the same size as the hammer head.
He was examined by paramedics who did not deem the wound serious.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Williamson he would have been jailed if Mr Martin’s injuries had been more serious.
He sentenced him to 140 hours of unpaid work and a year’s supervision.
