A BUILDER who brandished a baton and challenged a group of teenagers about the alleged bullying of a family member has been fined £1,000.

Frustrated Andrew Young, who also fits windows, was said to have wielded a long black pole after approaching youths outside a shop in Frampton Cotterell.

After whacking a car with it, the 47-year-old, of Meadow View, Frampton Cotterell, walked into a shop and hid it under a freezer before phoning the police himself.

He later admitted possessing an offensive weapon and was handed a £1,000 fine at Bristol Crown Court.

James Ward, prosecuting, said Young took the weapon out with him on the evening of July 30.

He said a teenager told how he had travelled back from Swindon in a car with friends and parked near a shop in Lower Stone Close, Frampton Cotterell when Young appeared from behind a corner and walked up to one of them.

Mr Ward said there was then a row between the two about the alleged bullying of a member of Young's family.

Then, without provocation or warning, Young pulled out a black pole "from nowhere" and hit a car.

He said it was accepted that no damage was caused.

Young was then said to have gone into a shop.

"Once in the shop the item was disposed of and the police found it under the freezer," said Mr Ward.

"The defendant had said. 'I'm waiting for the police. You will not find anything on me'."

James Cranfield, defending, said his client had acted out of frustration due to a perceived lack of action from the police to sort out his family's problems. But he accepted he should not have taken the law into his own hands.

Sentencing Young, Recorder Mr James Patrick said: "I have to sentence you for possessing an offensive weapon late at night in the area of a shop.

"You were engaged in an argument which to some degree you brought upon yourself.

"You pulled out an American-style baton and brandished and struck a car with it.

"The general public are heartily sick of offensive weapons."