A Ross-shire man arrived outside a colleague’s home with an axe early in the morning, Tain Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
Michael Campbell, 27, admitted brandishing the weapon and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at an address in Carron Place in Ardgay on March 1 this year.
The court heard Campbell launched a foul-mouthed tirade and banged on the windows and the front door at around 1am.
Campbell, whose address was given in court as 1 Gairs Building, Bonar Bridge, but who now stays in Ullapool, walked to Ardgay from his then address while carrying the axe.
Fiscal depute Stewart Maciver said: “The residents heard banging on the living room window and on the front door.
“The accused was seen holding the axe at shoulder height and he was shouting and yelling at the residents of the house.”
Mr Maciver said Campbell shouted “I’m going to kill you” at the occupants.
He added that when police found Campbell close to the house they discovered he had been drinking alcohol.
Campbell’s defence solicitor Ken Ferguson told the court his client had been angry with the male resident of the house – a former workmate – after receiving “hurtful messages” via social media.
He added: “There’s not much I can say in mitigation because my client accepts that he acted in this way.
“What I can say is that he was annoyed by the messages and he was not thinking rationally.
“He regrets his behaviour and fully appreciates that what he did was wrong.”
Sheriff Noel McPartlin fined Campbell £180, telling him: “Quite apart from what you said, the carrying of an axe was always likely to land you in trouble.
“The court will always take a serious view of the carrying of anything which could be seen as a weapon.”