A GROUNDWORKER took a knife to a popular Cowdenbeath pub when he was tipped over the edge by a friend's slur.

While heavily intoxicated Ian Sumnall took offence to a friend's jibe, went back to his home to stash a knife and returned back to Partner's Bar with the weapon in tow.

Sumnall, 31, of High Street, Cowdenbeath, previously admitted that on June 17 at Partner's Bar, being a public place, he did, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, have with him an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a knife, and that he did behave in a threatening or abusive manner, which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm in that he did repeatedly swear and utter threats of violence whilst in possession of a knife.

The accused appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on his birthday.

Depute fiscal Jade Doig said that at 1.45pm on June 17, Mr Sumnall appeared to already be intoxicated and remained at Partner's Bar socialising with other customers.

"The accused was told in a conversation that a female had attended his address and this caused him to stomp out but then returned," she said.

"The conversation continued about an unknown female attending Mr Sumnall's address and then he went home. While attending his property he left the front door wide open and eight to ten youths walking past saw the accused put a large kitchen knife under the band of his trousers.

"The youths approached police on the High Street and described the accused to them. Mr Sumnall went to Partner's Bar and pulled out the knife from his waist band.

"He was heard saying, "I am going to kill him" and "I am going to stick it on him". Someone then took the knife away from him and threw it on the table.

"The accused was told leave the pub and that he was barred. At this point the youths saw the accused and pointed him out to the police."

Defence solicitor, Ralph McCran, told the Court that Mr Sumnall lived in a flat directly opposite Partner's Bar and was spending a lot of time drinking in the pub.

He explained that his client's partner was working as a barmaid at the public house, but the couple split up a couple of weeks before the incident.

"A friend tried to wind him up saying that a blonde lady had come to his house looking for him in the presence of his former partner," he said.

"Mr Sumnall knew this was made up and he was trying to reconcile with his partner. He obviously let these remarks fester.

"He went home to get the knife and returned in the way described. He put the knife on the table but there was no brandishing.

"He realises he has a drink problem and is attending a programme to help him with his issues."

Sheriff Derek Reekie told Sumnall: "Obviously this is not the way you wanted to spend your birthday but it's your actions that have got you here.

"If this was an act of bravado then it was an extraordinarily stupid one. Other people would no doubt have been extremely frightened.

"You are taking steps with your alcohol problems so I will defer your sentence for a period of three months for good behaviour and to engage in voluntary alcohol treatment.

"I want to see your progress so I've put the onus on you."