An axe-wielding man chased his victim around a football pitch while startled spectators watched in disbelief.

Anastasios Kikiopolous, 50, held the weapon above his head as he and his son Daniel, 25, pursued self-employed joiner John Colquhoun through Cambusbarron Rovers' Mill Road Park, near Stirling.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard here had been previous hostility between the pair before the incident, which Sheriff Peter Anderson said was "shocking."

Mr Colquhoun, 44, told the court he had been warned by his solicitor to avoid Kikiopolous but saw him walking his dog while he was taking a shortcut into the amateur football club's ground.

He said: "Mr Kikiopolous turned to me and his expression changed from impassive to one of aggression and anger.

"His face contorted. From three metres away he said to me 'I'm going to get you'.

Mr Colquhoun said he carried on into the football ground and was walking behind one of the goals when he turned to see Kikiopolous "rumbling inside his jacket" and pulling out the axe.

He said: "He started to run towards me. The weapon was above his head and he was running towards me as fast as he could go. It was a hickory-shafted axe about 15 inches long. I thought my life was in danger."

The court heard when police officers arrived they found Mr Colquhoun "pale and shaking".

In answer to questioning, Mr Colquoun denied "poking" Kikiopolous with his umbrella, though he admitted having an umbrella with him.

He admitted that he had shouted: "Is that as fast as you can run?" at Kikiopolous, who the court heard suffered from mobility problems.

The football match, between Cambusbarron Rovers AFC on October 26, 2013, was attended by about 55 to 75 people, including the players.

Among spectators who gave evidence, roads worker William Blennie, 56, told the court: "I thought I was seeing things, because it was a football park with kids about and there were two people chasing one man with an axe."

Company director Brian Brown, 47, said his attention was drawn to "a commotion behind the goal" and saw Mr Colquhoun being chased by two men.

Mr Brown said: "I was shocked. I've been down that pitch for many years and never seen anything like that."

After a two-day trial, Sheriff Anderson found Kikiopolous, of Cambusbarron, near Stirling, guilty of breach of the peace, and possessing a bladed weapon.

Despite telling Kikiopolous the only appropriate sentence was imprisonment, Sheriff Anderson imposed a £950 fine after considering his many health problems.

No action was taken against Daniel Kikiopolous.