Whitstable footballer Mohammed Takalobigashi grabbed an axe during a bust-up with his ex dad-in-law....but has escaped with a “yellow card”.

The incident followed an acrimonious fall out with the mother of his three children – which resulted in a fracas in Broadstairs.

The angry exchange between the talented player - nicknamed Mo Takaloo - and Roland Arnold was captured on a mobile phone and played to Canterbury Crown Court.

And after an “action replay” – Judge Heather Norton concluded that the axe had never been raised during the argument – and let the 33- year-old off with a warning!

Work foreman Takalobigashi, 33, of Camden Road, Broadstairs had blighted his chances of playing in the Premiership after landed a jail sentence defending his shoplifting mother.

His barrister Simon Taylor said: “He is someone who has made a real success of his life because he comes from very, very poor and humble beginnings.

“His parents were regularly in trouble with the police and his mother was involved with drugs and shoplifting.”

Mr Taylor claimed that the footballer’s mother had been arrested for thieving in a shopping centre and he went to her assistance and was convicted for assault and sent to prison.

“That was a real low point of his life, because he was a very talented footballer and although he can’t say he would have made the Premiership, his incarceration ended that dream.

“But he has still turned around his life and became a foreman at work and a loving father. He is a family man above all else," he added.

Mr Taylor told the court, he was planning to quit his part-time career atWhitstable Football Club to encourage his son who was on the books of both Chrystal Palace and Gillingham football clubs.

He pleaded guilty to affray and was given a community order and told to do 120 hours of unpaid work for the community within the next year.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey told the court that on June 6 this year, Takalobigashi had been to the home of his former father-in-law in Princess Anne Road to take his son for football training.

“Once he had collected his son he also asked if he could see his two daughters. Mr Arnold agreed and went to shut the front door so the defendant couldn’t come into his home.

“At that point he started pushing and kicking at the door and shouted 'I’m going to do you and I’m going to get my brothers involved'," the prosecutor said.

After closing the door, Mr Arnold went to collect the daughters and later went into the back room where he heard the defendant pulling at fence panelling in the back garden.

“It was at this point that Mr Arnold took his mobile phone and began recording what was happening.

"As he opened the front door he saw the defendant walking towards up the drive way holding an axe, saying: ‘This is going around your f****** head’ but when he saw him being recorded hid the axe behind his back, “ said Mr Harvey.

Mr Arnold would later tell police: “I was genuinely scared for my safety and thought he was going to bury the axe in me” and claimed his wife Thelma was left shaking with fear.

Takalobigashi said the row began when he asked to speak to his ex-partner because he believed she had started a new relationship – but was refused.

"You have to deal with your break up in an adult and negotiated way rather than by aggressive confrontation” - Judge Heather Norton

He claimed he armed himself with an axe he used for work because he feared Mr Arnold was going to arm himself.

Mr Taylor said the break up of his relationship had caused him “ a great deal of pain”.

“And the greatest pain was going from one day seeing his children every day and the day after the break up having to arrange to see them piecemeal.

“It was a very difficult period and the red mist descended on this occasion. But he accepts that it was unedifying as there were children around at the time, and it has caused him no end of shame, “ he added.

Judge Heather Norton told him: “You have to deal with your break up in an adult and negotiated way rather than by aggressive confrontation.”

He was also ordered to pay £50 for damaging a fence at Mr Arnold’s home and told to stay away for the next 12 months.