A vengeful father forced his son-in-law to kneel and beg for forgiveness after dowsing him in liquid and threatening to torch him.
Company owner Stephen Keen made his wife film the humiliating apology on her mobile phone as he took revenge on terrified Stephen Saint.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that firefighter Mr Saint had been left suffering from flashbacks as a result of his shocking ordeal.
The court was told that Keen, who runs a cleaning business, had decided to take the law into his own hands after being told about a previous incident between Mr Saint and his daughter.
‘I could put you in hospital’
Fiscal depute Gavin Letford told the court: “Mr Saint is the accused’s son-in-law and had been in a relationship with his daughter for over ten years.
“In December 2019 Mr Saint and his wife engaged in an argument and physical altercation which was later disclosed to the accused.
“In the days that followed a series of social media messages were exchanged between the accused and Mr Saint and arrangements were made for him to attend with a view to sorting matters.
“The accused led him to the garden and headed to the garage. He shouted: ‘I’ll show you how I roll, what I’m all about.'”
Keen picked up a broken Stanley knife and shouted: “I could put you in hospital.” Mr Saint was able to keep a safe distance at this stage.
‘Picked up five or six matches’
“The accused picked up a bottle containing liquid,” Mr Letford said, “and squirted it at Mr Saint, covering his clothing in the liquid.
“The accused picked up five or six matches and held them next to the box as if he was going to strike them. Mr Saint was afraid he was going to be set on fire.”
The shocked victim asked: “Steve, what are you doing? Are you going to set fire to me?”
Mr Letford told the court: “The accused summoned his partner and told her to film Mr Saint using her mobile phone, which she did.
“He told him to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness, which he did, while he was being filmed. The accused then repeatedly kicked him on the legs.”
Mr Saint was then able to leave and contacted his wife to pick him up before reporting the attack to the police the following day.
When he was quizzed by police, Keen said: “I’m guilty. Someone hits my daughter, I’ll hit them.”
Flashbacks
Mr Saint was left with bruised legs as a result of the attack and Mr Letford said he had also suffered from panic attacks and ended up in hospital.
“He was put on medication and met the psychiatric nurse. The incident with the liquid and matches caused flashbacks to earlier when he was in the fire service.”
Keen, 62, Strathmartine Road, Dundee, admitted threatening his son-in-law with a knife and with violence in his garage on 3 January last year.
He admitted assaulting Mr Saint by pouring liquid on him and threatening him with matches, forcing him to kneel, and repeatedly kicking him on the body to his injury.
Sheriff Richard MacFarlane deferred sentence for the preparation of social background reports and Keen was granted bail.
