A DISTURBANCE broke out a family gathering at the home of an 84-year-old woman in Dunfermline.

The woman’s grandson started shouting, swearing then brandished a wooden chair as discussions became heated.

The incident resulted in a court appearance for Alistair Brown, 33, of Macbeth Road, Dunfermline.

He admitted that on October 26 at Queen Margaret Fauld, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, acted aggressively towards his grandmother, shouted, swore, picked up and brandished a wooden chair, placing her in a state of fear and alarm.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Matheson-Dear said: “There was a family gathering to discuss the possibility of the accused’s elderly grandmother being admitted to a nursing home.

“Clearly what happened would have been highly distressing for his grandmother.

“His ire was not aimed at his grandmother. It was aimed at his brother who should not have been there.

“He went back to the house later to apologise. He accepts it caused a considerable degree of distress. However, his intentions on going there had been benign and good.

“The presence of his brother was like a red rag to a bull.”

Sheriff Chris Shead deferred sentence until July 24 for Brown to be of good behaviour and for an update on the grandmother’s circumstances at that time.

The sheriff commented: “It’s a serious charge."