A lorry driver who brandished a wooden baton chased a man outside Asda in Aberdeen as part of a family feud about a missing laptop.
Craig Davidson carried out the “planned and premeditated” attack outside the Garthdee supermarket.
He resorted to violence after learning of comments made by his victim, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
The 41-year-old drove to the store and lept from his vehicle before running at the man and assaulting him.
Davidson brandished the weapon as the “terrified” man ran for cover inside Asda.
‘You’d better go get your mum’
Fiscal depute Stephanie Cardow told the court: “There was previously a family feud due to the complainer borrowing a laptop from the accused and subsequently losing it”.
She said the offence happened around 6.30pm on March 26 of this year.
The fiscal said: “The accused was at Asda and exited his vehicle and ran towards the complainer in a volatile manner”.
As he ran towards the man, Davidson shouted: “You’d better go get your mum”.
Davidson then kicked his victim’s leg and pushed him, with the man responding by pushing Davidson away.
‘Dispute between families about a laptop’
Mrs Cardow said: “The accused flailed his arms around, brandishing a wooden baton.
“The complainer observed the object, a foot in length with a pin protruding 4cm from it.
“This caused the complainer to feel terrified and he began to run towards the Asda entrance as a place of safety.”
Davidson chased the man but stopped before entering the store.
Witnesses saw his victim in a “distressed state” and police were contacted and later traced and arrested Davidson.
Davidson pled guilty to charges of assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
‘Extraordinary way to behave’
Defence agent Neil McRobert said his client lives alone but is a father of four.
“There had been a dispute between the families about a laptop. The complainer had borrowed the family laptop and actually sold it. That was one of the issues.
“The accused had been working away. He returned and was told the complainer had been threatening to smash windows of the addresses his children live at.”
Mr McRobert added: “The red mist descended. He went to the locus. He had a fair idea that the complainer would be there hanging about outside, as is the norm.”
The solicitor said the baton was in fact from a piece of dismantled furniture and the pin had been there for assembly rather than more sinister reasons.
Sheriff Margaret Hodge told Davidson: “I’m certainly concerned by these offences.
“They involve planning and premeditation and an assault on a younger man, whatever you thought of his previous behaviour.
“It seems an extraordinary way to behave and you had an offensive weapon.”
The sheriff fined Davidson, of Auchinyell Road, Aberdeen, £710.
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