A 74-year-old woman fled her Perth home after becoming scared of her drunk husband and had a meat cleaver brandished at her when she returned.
Cheung Fong’s wife Kwan left their Darnhall Drive flat after finding him drunk.
When she returned the next morning, he pushed her against a door and then outside the property, all while holding a meat cleaver.
Fiscal depute Andrew Harding told Perth Sheriff Court: “At about 7pm on December 5 in 2021, the witness contacted her son and advised him the accused had been drinking and that she was frightened.
“After attending at the locus, the son advised his mother to pack a bag and stay with him for the evening.”
Just before 1am, Fong himself contacted police, stating he had been drinking and was upset that his son had taken his wife away.
“There was a language barrier,” Mr Harding added.
“Police attended at the locus at 1.20am. They left the accused safe and well.”
Wife’s return
Mr Harding continued: “At 9am, Mrs Fong returned to the locus.
“She found the accused sitting, holding a meat cleaver in his right hand.
“He began shouting at her to get out.
“He has then got up off the couch and while still holding the knife, has pushed Mrs Fong against the door in the hallway and then pushed her out the front door.”
Mrs Fong contacted her son who in turn contacted police.
She remained outside until police arrived.
Officers found Fong standing in the hall holding the cleaver. He dropped it when asked.
Alcohol issues
Aided in the Perth Sheriff Court dock by an interpreter, Fong admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
Dad-of-five Fong, 77, will return to be sentenced on March 1.
His solicitor Linda Clark said pensioner Fong had spent six months unable to contact his wife after the incident due to bail conditions.
In 2008, Fong was handed a six year driving ban after admitting drink driving and driving without insurance in the city that summer.
He has another drink driving conviction pre-dating this.
She said: “Mr Fong’s previous convictions give an indication of occasional alcohol misuse.
“He had been drinking some alcohol within the matrimonial home whilst his partner had not been home.
“When she returned home, there had been some words exchanged between them.
“That seems to have set in course the events that subsequently took place.
“Nothing similar to this has occurred before.”
Risk assessment
Sheriff Paul Reid ordered reports.
He opted not to fine Fong on the spot, due to the economic climate and indirect impact doing so would have on Fong’s wife.
“I’m not minded to impose a financial penalty,” the sheriff said.
“On a view, it’s a spouse who threatens a spouse with a knife in a domestic home.
“I think at the very least, I need an assessment of risk.”
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