A WOULD-BE gardener with a criminal past was chased from a house where his offer to do some work was not wanted.

Ross Hamilton, from Dunfermline, had his bike thrown at him and responded by brandishing a garden fork and a hoe, making challenges to fight.

Hamilton, 36, of Corbett Place, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on September 26, at Don Road, Dunfermline, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and brandishing a garden fork and hoe as he challenged others to fight.

Depute fiscal Katherine Fraser said the incident occurred after Hamilton had gone to a house in a street where the residents knew about his previous crimes of dishonesty.

The son of the householder answered the door and recognised Hamilton. He had thought he had heard somebody trying to get into the house.

Hamilton asked: “Is Mary there? I do her garden.”

He was told nobody by that name lived there and was also told to leave. The man then threw Hamilton’s bike into the street.

Hamilton shouted: “Come on then,” brandishing the garden fork and hoe.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “He was looking for gardening work. He does have a record of dishonesty. The woman’s son put two and two together and got six. As a result, Mr Hamilton received a very hostile response.

“His bicycle, which had a strimmer attached to it, was thrown at him twice. He was told: ‘F*** off out of here.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown asked Hamilton: “Do you think you can stay out of trouble for three months?” Hamilton said he could.

The sheriff deferred sentence until April 8 for good behaviour.