A PERVERT who wielded a hammer at a vigilante group after they confronted him at his door walked free from court on Friday.

Andrew Ewing had earlier been online chatting to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

The 42-year-old sent texts and made 10 explicit calls over six months between December 2017 and May in 2018.

But, it emerged he was chatting to a “decoy” from the paedophile hunter gang.

The group went to his home in the Gorbals, but he initially refused to answer.

But, then he stormed out holding a hammer.

Prosecutor Mark Allan told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “He went out with a claw hammer in his hand and a disturbance developed.

“There was a coming together as they attempted to take the hammer from his grasp.”

Ewing pleaded guilty to illegally attempting to communicate with a child as well as possession of a hammer. in a public place.

Sheriff Marin Jones QC ordered Ewing to perform 150 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for two years.

Ewing will also be under a curfew for six months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

Lawyer, Ryan Sloan, defending told the court that Ewing continued the chat as he was “unfamiliar with someone showing romantic interest in him.”

He added that Ewing was terrified for his safety before taking possession of the hammer.