Teenager had pick-shaft during argument

A Kirkcaldy teenager has been warned to stay out of trouble after he admitted having a pick-shaft during a heated argument with his brother.

Matthew McAllister, 18, of the Fife town’s Rutherford Court, pleaded guilty to having the offensive weapon in Lerwick’s Ronald Street on Wednesday afternoon.

McAllister had been in the isles working with his roofing contractor brother when a dispute between the siblings bubbled over.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said McAllister was outside a van they were using, waving the pick-shaft and making threats.

The brother became “extremely concerned” and shouted to a passing woman to summon help. She flagged down a motorist who called the police.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the dispute had arisen out of a “stupid argument to do with phones”.

Mr Allan said: “It got out of hand, in the kind of way that brothers often spar and disagree.”

He insisted McAllister was charged with “simple possession” of the pick-shaft, but admitted. “Clearly it was inappropriate for him to have it in the middle of a dispute where he was falling out with his brother.”

Mr Allan said there was now “no difficulty” between the two. McAllister had no serious intention of carrying out any of the threats he had made, and his brother was in court to support him.

He added that McAllister had spent the night in custody and the roof they were working on was exposed to the elements.

Honorary sheriff Arnold Duncan deferred sentence until January for McAllister to be of good behaviour. He was released on bail.