A worried dad who threatened a man while holding a baseball bat walked free from the dock with his “unblemished” record intact after receiving an absolute discharge.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, painter and decorator Neil Menzies, 45, of Woodhaven Place, Dundee, admitted possessing the weapon last May.
However, Sheriff Ian Carmichael discharged him after hearing the man had come to the aid of his “extremely distressed” daughter who was allegedly being assaulted by her partner, against whom criminal proceedings have been raised.
The court heard Mr Menzies had received a call from his daughter, and he jumped in his van.
The court was told he took the baseball bat from his van and pointed it at the complainer, telling him: “You touch my daughter again and I’ll hit you with this.”
Police attended and Mr Menzies was arrested and the bat was found inside a cupboard.
Solicitor advocate Jack Brown said: “His daughter was screaming at him to get the attacker off her.”
He invited the sheriff to accept the “exceptional circumstances” and grant an absolute discharge.
