AN IRATE resident of a busy street threatened to smash a ­driver's windscreen with a sledgehammer when he parked outside his house.

Andrew Lothian, 72, told Neil McGlashen to get off his kerb when the 40-year-old was picking up his child from a nearby school.

When Mr McGlashen did not move, Lothian shouted and ­threatened: "Do you want me to go get a hammer and smash your windscreen?"

The pensioner then got a ­sledgehammer and motioned towards the car, after which Mr McGlashen drove off and contacted the police.

But when officers turned up at Lothian's house believing he had made the complaint, he also told them to move their car.

First offender Lothian, from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, making threats and brandishing a sledgehammer on February 4.

The court heard that at around 2.55pm, Mr McGlashen parked his car outside Lothian's house.

Procurator-fiscal depute John Slowey told the court: "He observed the accused gesture towards him as he brought his vehicle to a stop. He heard the accused shout 'Get it off my kerb'."

Lothian continued to shout at Mr McGlashen, yelling: "Do you want me to go get a hammer and smash your windscreen?"

Mr Slowey added: "Angered by this, Mr McGlashen replied 'Aye, on you go'.

"The accused went back up his path then came back down holding in two hands a large sledgehammer-type tool.

"The accused motioned towards Mr McGlashen's car."

Mr McGlashen moved his car and contacted the police.

Another woman who was across the road with her three-year-old and also waiting to pick up a child was described as "fearful".

Mr Slowey said police later went to Lothian's door believing he had been the person who had reported the incident.

He said: "The police parked their vehicle at the accused's house also, and the accused ­volunteered the statement: 'How can I complain about people parking on my kerb when you are doing it? You better get it moved'."

The police left but returned, and Lothian gave them the sledgehammer.

Defence lawyer Clare Ryan said the street on which Lothian lives was always busy with parents parking their cars to pick up children. She said it was a small street with a dead end and that her client would have had difficulty leaving - which he was planning to do - with all the cars parked there.

Mrs Ryan said: "He accepts he didn't deal with this how he should have."

She told the court he was "very remorseful" and said he had been in contact with the council since 2003 about the problems he has with cars parking in the street.

Sheriff Charles McFarlane, QC, told Lothian: "You appear before this court at the age of 72 with no previous convictions and nothing outstanding.

"I am prepared to accept this was a one-off situation, nonetheless it is serious."

The sheriff deferred sentence for six months for Lothian to be of good behaviour.