A grief-stricken young man stood outside his friends’ house with two knives after “horseplay” ended up in upset over his recently deceased father.
James Robertson, 19, of Montrose, was watching the World Cup when he became upset over banter with friends, and he left to get knives from his mother’s house in the same street.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the first offender returned a short time later and challenged the occupants to come outside, but was intercepted by his mother.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said Robertson had become “somewhat upset” after a day spent watching football with his friends and drinking.
She said: “On the Saturday, the accused had been at a friend’s house only 20 yards away from his mother’s house, effectively his home address.
“At 9.25pm he was with three friends who lived there. They had been drinking, and there was some horseplay.
“He then went back to his mum’s home, got two knives, and walked back along the road. He shouted at the people inside from the pavement.
“His mum managed to get him back inside in a short space of time, but he was seen by a witness inside and they had already called the police.”
The Crown called for forfeiture of the knives, which was not opposed.
Defending Robertson, Nick Markowski, said his client had looked into bereavement counselling.
He added: “2014 has been a difficult year for him, one in which he’s lost his father.
“They were all watching the World Cup and there was a bit of horseplay. They mentioned his father, and he got upset.
“He doesn’t strike me as someone who will come to the attention of the court again.”
Deferring sentence for six months for Robertson to be of good behaviour, Sheriff Gregor Murray said: “I note your positive steps in relation to going to the GP.
“I have to make clear this is the sort of thing the court has to take seriously.
“It’s perhaps to your great fortune your mother intervened when she did.”
Robertson admitted having an article with a blade, namely two knives, on July 5 at Charlton Place, Montrose.
He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of breach of the peace, reduced from one of possessing offensive weapons in a public place.