A DAD who caused a disturbance after chastising his son for getting out of bed has been ordered to do unpaid work.

Bernard Fitzpatrick, 34, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He had earlier admitted that on July 20 at a house in North Street, Lochgelly, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner when he shouted, swore, refused to leave when requested to do so, uttered a threat and repeatedly struck a door.

Depute fiscal, Jamie Roy, said Fitzpatrick and his former partner had been in a relationship for 11 and a half years and had two children. They had been in the livingroom at around 2.30am when their son got out of bed and asked for a glass of water as he had a sore head.

Fitzpatrick, of Roadmans Cottage, Auchtertool, began to chastise the child because he didn't believe him. His partner provided some Calpol for the child which caused an argument between the couple.

Because of the row, Fitzpatrick was asked to leave and he did not at that time. Concerned at his temper, the partner went into the children's bedroom with the children and pushed her back against the door to prevent Fitzpatrick from getting in. He was banging on the door. He was shouting and swearing and threatened "to smash the head in" of his former partner.

Solicitor, Stephen Morrison, said his client realised his relationship of some 11 and a half years was probably coming to an end and had become distressed at this because he was worried it would result in him becoming isolated from his two children.

"He had already been using alcohol in particular as a support mechanism," he said. "He accepts full responsibility for his behaviour on this occasion.

"He has not taken a drop of alcohol since this happened nearly two months ago."

Sheriff Charles Macnair placed Fitzpatrick on a community payback order with supervision for two years and a requirement to do 190 hours of unpaid work within six months.

"This was a bad episode of domestic abuse and you have previously served a prison sentence for abusing the same complainer," he said.

"I am just prepared to give you an opportunity of a non custodial sentence."