An Angus man who charged across a busy town centre brandishing a folding saw has narrowly escaped jail.
Danny Low received a one-year community payback order at Forfar Sheriff Court and will be put on an electronic tag for three months after the Montrose High Street incident in which he told a man: “Look what I’ve got for you.”
Low, 41, had been cycling through the town centre when he saw the 55-year-old complainer, who he had earlier fallen out with over gardening work.
He got halfway across the busy road before turning around, but was seen by police who were stopped at nearby traffic lights.
Officers arrested him and took possession of the saw, which had a seven-inch blade.
Low, of Glenlethnot Place, Montrose, previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place on September 30 last year and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “This wasn’t a planned matter. He was cycling through Montrose, saw the man, got off his bike but turned back and didn’t pursue him further.
“A salient point of the narrative is his reply to police that he had done wrong and hoped he would get some help.
“There has not been any further difficulty since then and this happened a year ago.”
He said Low was receiving assistance for drug addiction difficulties and had experienced mental health problems.
Sheriff Simon Collins told the accused: “The serious offence to which you have pled guilty is one which could result in a prison sentence.
“You are 41 years old with no previous convictions for violence and given your record there are alternatives to custody.”
Low’s three-month restriction of liberty order will confine him to his home daily, between 7pm and 7am.
Sheriff Collins warned the accused: “Should you breach the orders and come back in front of me, you can expect to be sent to prison.”