A Forfar man who went into the street brandishing a six-inch carved kitchen knife after a row with partying neighbours has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.
Michael McIntosh will carry out 300 hours of unpaid work under a Community Payback Order imposed in the wake of the August incident at Strathmore Avenue when he lost the rag over a house party which went on until 5am.
McIntosh had been out with his partner for a meal and drinks and got involved in a spat with some of the partygoers around 12.30am as they left the rowdy flat.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the party had been the subject of a noise complaint to police before McIntosh became involved.
“An argument started, resulting in some grappling between the accused and a witness,” she told Forfar Sheriff Court.
“The accused then went back into his home and came out with a kitchen knife in his right hand.”
McIntosh then told one of the witnesses: “I’ll stab you” before returning to his home.
Ms Drummond added: “Police received another complaint from a member of the public about the noise level and when they were emptying the house became aware a neighbour had been out with a knife in his hand.”
Defence solicitor Keith Sym said the party had been “in full swing” when McIntosh and his girlfriend returned home.
“He was aware police had attended, went out to have words, words were exchanged and he felt he was under threat.
“What he should have done was go back inside and shut the door, but foolishly he went back outside with the knife in his hand.
“It seems the party went on until 5am, but none of the persons made a complaint so it doesn’t appear that they thought they were in imminent danger.”
Mr Sym added: “He has a history of offending behaviour, but no history of violence and there was no intention at all to use the knife.
“However, he understands that anyone caught with a knife in a public place faces a chance of a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Murray told McIntosh: “Yours is a particularly difficult case on which to impose a sentence.
“Any person who appears in public in any circumstances in possession of a knife knows that that can lead to.
“I the circumstances I conclude, just, that there is an alternative to a custodial sentence as you didn’t do anything with the knife.”
