A Lanarkshire tanning salon owner who threatened to "wipe out" a friend over a £12,000 debt had been facing "financial ruin".
Raging John Lucas warned a male pal that he would send "heavy duty people" to his home if the money wasn't paid back immediately.
But his lawyer claimed this week that it was an "empty threat" brought on by the stress his client was facing over his struggling business.
Lucas, 34, of Hagen Drive in Motherwell, was placed under supervision for two years at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
He admitted threatening his friend at his Airdrie home on December 28, 2020, and threatening or abusive behaviour towards police officers the next day.
Lauren Cole, prosecuting, told the court: "He phoned his friend at his home in Airdrie to discuss £12,000 that [his friend] owed.
"The men were close friends but had fallen out over the debt.
"During the call Lucas became irate, demanding payment and threatening the man and his family with violence.
"He said, 'I'll f****** wipe out the lot of you. I've got heavy duty people coming to see you and your family if you don't get this f****** squared up right now'.
"Due to the nature of the calls, the friend contacted the police."
When officers went to arrest Lucas, his partner, Kerrie Black, answered the door.
Mrs Cole added: "She shouted inside to Lucas, 'they're going to f****** jail you', and tried to close the door.
"Lucas appeared and shouted, 'where's your f****** warrant?'. He grabbed an officer's radio and threw it to the ground.
"He began to resist arrest violently and, as a result, pava spray was discharged. Lucas shouted ,'f******. spray me, ya bam. I'll rip your f****** face out'.
"Pava was sprayed a further twice and the officers were then able to handcuff him."
Black, 33, had her not guilty pleas to charges of resisting arrest and threatening or abusive behaviour accepted.
Defence agent Neil McShane said dad-of-one Lucas reacted after his friend's dad phoned him regarding the debt.
Mr McShane stated: "His view was that there was nothing outstanding and if Mr Lucas was to attend looking for that money he would find out what would happen.
"My client had been drinking and taking prescribed medication. He phoned his friend and said things he shouldn't have said.
"His position is these were empty threats.
"He was facing financial run because of the failure of his sunbed business but accepts there was nothing that could justify these comments.
"He does not have a significant record for violence.
"It's a very serious charge but custody would have a devastating effect on his family and partner."
Sheriff Joseph Hughes said Lucas was "on the cusp" of a prison sentence but agreed to impose a community payback order as a direct alternative which includes 160 hours of unpaid work.
Lucas will also be confined to his home between 7pm and 7am each day for four months under an electronic tagging order.
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