An Inverness man who grabbed a butter knife to frighten off an attacker avoided jail yesterday.
But 32 year old James Hampton, who was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative, was told he would go to prison if he missed one appointment.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood told Hampton’s lawyer, Rory Gowans: “He is on a Community Payback Order now and he is not doing it.”
And he warned Hampton: “When the court tells you to do something, you do it. Fail to turn up once you will be in breach and back in front of me.”
Sentence had been deferred previously at Inverness Sheriff Court for a background report on Hampton, now of Mackintosh Road.
The court had been told that the incident in Baron Taylor’s Street near Hampton’s then accommodation in Grant’s Close, was filmed on CCTV.
He was seen holding the knife behind his back as he confronted his aggressor.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff Fleetwood that the cameras captured the other man opening a wheelie bin and taking a bottle out.
Hampton admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner on February 22 last year by holding a knife when intoxicated and challenging a person to fight.
Mr Gowans said Hampton turned to alcohol after a relationship break-up.
“He made a foolish decision and got the knife to scare the man away. He should have gone into his property and phoned the police.”