Mayhem as dogs started fighting
A dog owner threatened another man after their pets began fighting.
Mark James, 30, lost the plot at Aiden Kelly after the animals were pulled apart.
The victim insists he called police after a crowbar was brandished at him – but the defence say it was a pooch’s ball launcher.
James pled guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to attempting to strike him on the head with the weapon.
Prosecutor Colin Wilson told how trouble flared during an altercation in a playpark.
He said: “Aiden Kelly was walking his dog with his girlfriend when an argument was instigated between him and the accused.
“The accused shouted in an aggressive manner at Mr Kelly, telling him to ‘f**k off’.
“He then got into his car and, as Aiden Kelly and his girlfriend approached, on the other side of the road, the accused got out and brandished an implement as large or similar in shape to a crowbar.”
James was in a play park near Newmains Primary School, in Renfrew, with his mother-in-law and dog when it began tussling with another pet.
The court heard he hit the animal to break-up the fight, which led to a spat with its owner.
Defence lawyer Kevin Brady said: “Mr James’ dog was attacked by another dog when a female appeared and asked what he was doing.
“Aiden Kelly appears to have been called by her.
“He comes into the park and challenged Mr James because he had to strike the dog to get it off.”
Mr Brady maintains Mr Kelly intimidated James by following him down the road after he left the park with a two-year-old child.
He says his client grabbed a plastic tool used for throwing dog toys after he was trailed to his car in Second Avenue, near the junction of Baron Street, around 7pm on March 20.
Sheriff Charlotte Coutts fined James for the outburst.