A Dunfermline man was armed with a knife when he went to a flat in the early hours of the morning in a dispute about baby rats.

Noel Foley pulled out the knife and made threats before stabbing at the door.

Foley, 20, of Broomhead Drive, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 19 last year at Broomhead Drive, he shouted, swore, brandished a knife, forcibly attempted to enter a flat, repeatedly stabbed at the door causing damage, repeatedly made threats of violence and engaged in an altercation.

He also admitted being unlawfully in possession of a knife.

Depute fiscal Andrew Brown said at 1.15am Foley had gone to the flat and rang the doorbell shouting “Let me in”.

When he was refused entry, he pulled out a knife and shouted, “You will let me in. I’m getting those rats.”

When told again he was not getting in, Foley put his foot in the door and lunged at the man living there.

Foley then began stabbing at the door with the knife before becoming involved in an argument with a female.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said: “The disagreement was about the breeding of rats.

"He’s not ordinarily someone who is given to violence and I’d like to think he’s learned his lesson.”

Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon imposed a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work and one year’s supervision.