A KELTY workman who took a chainsaw to a fence on Christmas morning in a dispute over payment has said he acted out of “frustration”.

The occupants of the house were terrified when they woke up to see chainsaw-wielding William Clark cutting down their fence.

Dunfermline JP court heard it was the culmination of a dispute over payment between Clark and his brother’s ex-partner.

Clark, 50, of Beechbank Crescent, admitted that on December 25 at McClelland Crescent, Dunfermline, he recklessly destroyed property by cutting down a fence with a chainsaw.

Clark submitted his guilty plea by letter and was not present in court.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: “The complainer was awakened at 8.15am by her daughter screaming. When she looked out of her window she saw the accused cutting down her fence.

“The background is that the accused apparently claims he is owed £500 for work carried out in putting up the fence.

“A civil claim was commenced to try to get the money back. However, when the money still hadn’t been returned, he took the law into his own hands.

“It seems to have been a case of him putting up the fence, he wasn’t paid and he took it back down.

“He said afterwards to police that taking a chainsaw to the fence was wrong but that he had acted out of frustration.”

Sentence was deferred until May 26 for Clark to appear in person and give an explanation for his actions.