A Perth dad has admitted menacing his future son-in-law in the street while armed with a claw hammer – just days before he is due to give away his daughter at their wedding ceremony this weekend.
Paul Bonar appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted brandishing the black-handled weapon while advancing towards his future son-in-law.
The incident, which happened in Perth’s Muirton area, was witnessed by neighbours who alerted police.
Bonar, 49, was charged with threatening an “unidentified male” at the corner of Carnegie Place and Capercallie Road on April 7 last year.
The court heard that the victim is due to marry Bonar’s daughter on Saturday.
Disturbance outside
Fiscal depute Matthew Kerr told the court: “At about 1pm, a witness was in his home address when he heard a disturbance outside.
“He looked out of his window and saw the accused leaving his home address.
“He walked onto the street and was pulling at his trousers.
“The accused was then seen to remove a claw hammer from his trouser pocket.
“He held it in his right hand and brandished it above his head.”
The fiscal depute said: “Another witness also saw the accused outside his home.
“He saw him the black handle of a hammer clearly emerging from the rear of his trousers.
“He was reaching for it while approaching an unidentified male in the street.”
Mr Kerr told the court: “The police were contacted and traced the accused at his home address.
“He was arrested and made no reply to being cautioned and charged.”
Unpaid work
Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: “The male who was the cause of his altercation is to marry Mr Bonar’s daughter this Saturday, so hopefully the relationship is in a better state now than it was then.”
Bonar, of Carnegie Place, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause fear or alarm.
He further pled guilty to having an offensive weapon in a public place.
Sheriff Robert Carr told Bonar: ” Anyone would have been fearful and alarmed by what happened on this particular date.”
Bonar was ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. He was told his sentence was a direct alternative to custody.
