A man launched a wok into a neighbour’s garden in frustration after being wrongly accused of texting an ex.

On Thursday (31 July) at Alloa Sheriff Court, Steven Peddie (46) admitted placing a woman in a state of fear and alarm by shouting, throwing food, dropping a picture frame and causing it to break, and acting in an aggressive manner at his home address on 9 June 2013.

Fiscal depute Ann Orr told the court that on the night in question the accused and his former partner had been drinking alcohol and got into an argument.

Peddie, of St Serf’s Walk in Alva, reportedly got angry over the issue that the dinner hadn’t been cooked. He then took the wok from the cooker top and chucked it out of the door and into his neighbour’s garden.

As his partner packed her bags to leave, Peddie took a picture from the wall and dropped it – causing the frame to break.

The woman then called the police. When they arrived she was found sitting on the stairs, upset and frightened.

Officers found evidence of the disturbance with food on the ground, a wok in the neighbour’s garden and a broken picture frame.

At the time Peddie admitted he’d become frustrated after he’d been accused of texting an ex-girlfriend, whereas in fact it was his sister.

Peddie – who represented himself in court – maintained that the text messages were to his younger sibling.

He claimed that his former partner – who had moved from England to live with him – was distressed at the time of the incident because of a situation involving her son, who lived elsewhere.

Peddie, who has been on good behaviour since the incident, stated that he only ever wanted to provide a home for her and support her, but that she has since returned to England.

Sheriff David Mackie sympathised with Peddie’s situation and admonished him.