A BLAIRHALL businessman ran at his partner with a brick in two frightening episodes at his home.

David Young, 55, of East Grange Farm Cottage, also threatened to burn down property after saying he was not happy with his partner talking to other people.

He previously admitted that on May 30, 2018, at his home address, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm in that he did shout and brandish a brick at his ex-partner.

Also, on June 4, 2018, at the same address, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm in that he did shout and swear at his ex-partner, throw a brick, threaten to damage property there and poured petrol over a quad bike and threatened to set it alight.

Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard that Young and the complainer were in a relationship at the time of the offence and resided on the same farm but the accused lived in a caravan in the yard of the property.

The court was told that, on May 30, the pair became involved in an argument and the accused was "ranting" that he would make the complainer and her friend homeless.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: "She walked away and as she did he picked up a brick and started running at her."

At the time of the second offence, Young came in the yard between 7-9am and began arguing with the complainer, saying he was "not happy with her talking to other people".

The complainer didn't want to speak to the accused, the court was told. But he picked up a brick and ran towards her shouting: "You don't know what fighting and arguing is."

Again he picked up a brick and hit it off his own car. He also threatened to burn the property to the ground, the court was told.

Mr Kapadia said that Young went into a shed and came back with a container of petrol which he poured over a quad bike that was parked in the yard, all the while continuing to rant abuse and shout that he was going to set the place on fire.

Frightened by his behaviour, his partner called the police, and when realising she had done that, he washed the quad bike down before getting himself a cup of coffee, the court heard.

Officers came immediately and found Young sitting by the decking of his caravan.

He told the police: "I have lost the plot this morning, I am sorry".

He explained that he had bought the quad bike as a gift two weeks prior, poured petrol on it and threatened to set it on fire.

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist explained that at a trial at the High Court involving her client in a separate matter, he had been found not guilty.

She said: "Mr Young was under an extreme amount of stress at the time of this incident.

"He had lost several members of his family, was working an extreme amount of hours, had a car wash business and worked on the farm owned by his brother.

"Obviously as a result of this case and the high court case he was bailed on the condition that he did not approach the complainer and the property.

"His High Court case was financed privately and he has relied on family to help him.

"His business is pretty much gone and he finds it difficult to leave the house.

"He is currently working at his mother's pet shop and living with her.

"I appreciate the narrative given is quite alarming but you are talking about an incident that happened in excess of a year ago and since that time no further matters have arisen."

Sheriff Charles Macnair deferred sentence until September 26.