A man threatened to “batter” his friend with a metal baseball bat when he started dating his ex-girlfriend.
Jordan Argo, 23, flew into a rage after he saw his friend and his former partner walking together in Aberdeen.
He then followed the couple to a nearby house on Powis Place and threatened to “rip” the man’s head off.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard how Argo went to the property, which belonged to the victim’s grandparents, and made numerous threats while holding the baseball bat.
He told his friend he would “kill” him as he banged on windows and attempted to enter the house.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges, including behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, being in possession of a metal baseball bat, and resisting arrest on October 22 2019.
Thug told friend he was going to ‘batter’ him
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister told the court that the couple had walked past Argo’s flat when he stuck his head out and shouted to his friend that he “better wait there so I can batter you”.
He then followed the couple to his friend’s grandparents’ home where they just managed to shut the door before Argo could enter.
“The accused appeared at the living room window”, Mr Alister said. “He was shouting and swearing, acting aggressively and trying to get the complainer to come outside.
“A short time later the accused then appeared at the kitchen window and was knocking and banging on the window.
“The kitchen window was slightly open and the accused appeared to be trying to fit his head through it whilst shouting abuse.
“He was told to go, which he initially did, but he thereafter proceeded to return on numerous occasions over the next half hour and was shouting and swearing.
“On the fourth occasion, he appeared at the window in possession of a silver metal baseball bat and told the complainer he was ‘going to rip his head off’.”
After stating that he going to continue terrorising his friend until he came outside, the victim’s grandparents told Argo to leave the property and he complied.
Police officers then arrived and arrested Argo after finding the baseball bat in his flat.
‘He has completely turned his life around’
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge told the court that the incident had occurred over two years ago when his client was 20 years old.
“He hadn’t seen the complainer in some time and it’s perhaps fortunate that this has taken so long to come to court.
“Since then he has completely turned his life around and has settled down.
“He is growing up and now realises that he can’t behave in this way.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told the 23-year-old that he could “well imagine why this episode would have been alarming” for the grandparents of his friend and anyone else who lived in the house.
He added: “You were behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and you had a baseball bat.
“However, I also recognise that this took place two years ago and there has been development in your personal circumstances since then.”
Sheriff Miller sentenced Argo, of Springhill Road, Aberdeen, to a community payback order with 12 months of supervision and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
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