A hot-headed dad made threats to a neighbour when he told her that she and her son would soon be "pushing up daisies" in a row over flowers.
Ian Armstrong, 48, made the threat to kill after his neighbour complained about his daughter picking flowers from land she claims is hers.
He turned up on her doorstep in Avon Crescent, Chilton Moor, near Houghton-le-Spring, and told her he would get them “one by one”.
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South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard the incident, on Sunday, August 30, had left her “terrified” and feeling intimidated by Armstrong, who lives a few doors away.
Prosecutor Marc Atkins said: “She has lived there for about nine years with her family.
“This neighbour dispute is over some daisies that were planted, opposite her address, on land that she says she owns. That’s what this dispute is about.
“She was at home with her sons. She describes being in the front garden when the defendant shouted towards her.
“He called her names such as ‘f****** fat c***’ and ‘fat f*****’. She then went inside.”
Mr Atkins said when she reappeared a few hours later, Armstrong again shouted abuse – and she headed for her back garden.
He added: “She heard banging at the front, it was the defendant banging on her door.
“He made threats, and when she opened the door, he said that she and her son were 'f****** dead'.
“He said that he was going to come for them one by one. She called the police.”
The court heard Ms McEvoy, had soundless CCTV installed and footage showed Armstrong at the door, making threatening gestures.
He made admissions to police upon his arrest but disputed his victim had been harmed by his actions.
Mr Atkins said dad-of-two Armstrong had 17 previous convictions from 27 offences but had not been in trouble since 2012.
Greg Flaxen, defending, told magistrates: “Your worships will probably agree that there’s little worse than dealing with a dispute between neighbours.
“Daisies losing their heads is not what I thought I’d be spending my time doing as an advocate.
“There is CCTV, which doesn’t have sound. It does show him with his chest puffed out, there’s lots of pointing.
“His daughter has picked daisies. He’s the father of two little girls. The injured party has remonstrated, for whatever reason.
“He’s not a man of good character but his offences were in the '80s and '90s. His children were born, and he stopped offending.
“He doesn’t accept that he made the threats.”
Armstrong pleaded guilty to causing harassment, alarm or distress.
Magistrates adjourned the case for reports and he will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, August 3.
He was granted bail on condition he does not contact prosecution witnesses.
