A pensioner has been fined after battering an Angus caravan park neighbour with a pick axe handle in a fallout over comments made about his wife.
Alexander Rourke snapped in the September incident at Barry Downs, near Carnoustie, after a series of run-ins with his victim, and Forfar Sheriff Court heard that the case had caused so much stress to the accused and his wife that they have since left the site and moved to Dundee.
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown told the court the incident happened around 1pm when the complainer was leaving a pub and the accused shouted over to him.
The argument was about the man previously shouting at Rourke’s wife and the accused then went to his vehicle, removed a pick axe and swung it at him.
“Thereafter he removed the head from the pick axe and struck the complainer twice on the forearm, which was outstretched to defend himself,” Mr Brown continued.
“The accused went into the pub with the handle. The complainer went to the rear of the pub and the accused came out and was seen swinging the pick axe handle again.
“The accused then walked off and the matter was reported to police,” the court was told.
Mr Brown said the victim sustained two cuts to his arm as well as reddening and bruising but did not require medical treatment.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said 69-year-old Rourke, now of Harefield Road, Dundee, had no previous convictions and had been living happily on the Angus site with his wife.
“There have been a number of incidents in the past and those instructing me tell that the complainer was considered a bully by the residents there.
“The accused’s wife and the complainer had been involved in an incident resulting in the complainer being rude about the accused’s wife.
“Angered by his wife’s treatment, he clearly over-reacted over what had gone before.
“He struck the complainer out of sheer frustration and these court proceedings have been a great stress to him.
“They have felt it appropriate to give up that address and move to Dundee.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio fined Rourke £300.