After a man accused him of assault, Ryan Edmison threatened him on Facebook.
Edmison sent a message on the social networking site, accusing the man of being a grass and threatening to introduce him to his pal “Stanley”.
A few days later, Edmison spat on a passenger in the man’s car as he drove in Galashiels.
The 22-year-old of Forest Crescent, Galashiels, was jailed for six months, after he admitted sending offensive and menacing messages at Thornfield Terrace, Selkirk, on a number of occasions between August 3 and 4.
He also admitted assaulting another man by spitting on him in Galashiels High Street on August 8.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the offences followed an “ongoing feud” with a man Edmison believed had become “too close” to his girlfriend while he was in prison.
Messages sent by Edmison included, “If you really want, I will give you something for you to grass on me about.”
He also threatened, “Tell me why I shouldn’t hunt you down, afore (sic) I get lifted, and let you meet my auld pal Stanley.”
Ms Bradley said Edmison had sent the messages while at Broadstairs in Kent.
On August 8, the accused saw the man’s car being driven in Galashiels High Street and walked into the middle of the road, spitting through the open passenger window.
The man drove straight to the police station and reported matters, leading to Edmison’s arrest.
During interview, he fully admitted the offences.
Edmison said he was angry at being accused of an alleged assault.
Asked what he meant when he referred to his pal Stanley, he conceded it was a Stanley knife.
“I was angry, I would never have carried out any of the threats,” he told police. “I was just trying to scare him.”
Solicitor Ross Dow, defending, said his client was “regretful” and had made “empty threats” in a bid to scare the man.
“It was a knee jerk reaction, going straight to Facebook and venting his anger,” said Mr Dow, “as he felt hard done by.”
He said Edmison, a keen footballer, hadn’t realised the car window was open when he spat.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Edmison: “You have an extensive record which includes 12 convictions for assault, including an assault to severe injury for which, in May 2012, you were sentenced to 12 months in a Young Offenders Institution.
“Any threats of violence against witnesses to change their evidence is a matter of the gravest kind, all the more so with threats of injury with a knife and a public remonstration of animosity,” he added.
Sheriff Drummond jailed Edmison for six months – reduced from nine for his early plea – warning that threats of a knife and threats to witnesses would not be tolerated.