Teen threatened with axe during argument

Confrontation over a house key

A 49-year-old Perthshire man threatened a teenager less than half his age with an axe during a confrontation over a house key.

Thirty-year-old Gail Fair told Perth Sheriff Court she was “terrified” when she saw her father Craig Fair head straight for the 16-year-old with the weapon in his hand.

“He stormed over towards him, waving the axe around,” she explained.

He had the axe at the teen’s neck but she added: “He managed to escape - I’m not sure how.”

Gail was giving evidence at the trial of her father - and her sister, 22-year-old Catriona Fair - both of Newton Street, Blairgowrie.

He was found guilty of acting in an aggressive manner towards his daughter Gail - and her partner, Daniel Craig - and making violent threats to them at their home at Tree Back, Meigle, on September 26 last year.

He was also found guilty of assaulting the teenager by placing an axe against his neck and threatening him with violence - and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

A single charge against Catriona Fair of acting in an aggressive manner towards her sister Gail and Mr Craig by shouting and making violent threats was found not proven.

The father will discover his fate on February 21 after a background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment have been prepared.

The axe, which was later discovered by police in his vehicle, was forfeited and the accused had his bail continued meantime.

The court was told that the incident was fall-out from a family dispute which saw Craig Fair and his wife split up.

That led to him leaving the marital home at Fullarton Farm Cottage, near Meigle.

He and his daughter Gail had gone to Tree Back to collect the cottage key but a dispute arose.

Mr Fair claimed in evidence that because of the previous history, which involved family feuds, he had been “set up to get one over on him.”

But Sheriff Keith O’Mahony rejected his evidence, convicting him with amendments to the first two charges.

The sheriff acknowledged there had been “an emotional background” to the evidence presented from both sides but he was only interested in what had taken place on September 26 last year.

He told Catriona Fair he had not been “convinced or satisfied” beyond a reasonable doubt as to precisely what she had done and found the charge against her not proven.

Craig Fair admitted a number of previous convictions, mainly for road traffic matters.