A young man who told a traffic warden that he would smash his glasses and shove his teeth down his neck after he was issued with a fine has been sentenced to two months in prison.

James McDonagh threw the fine at the warden telling him to "shove it up your hole" and started to follow the warden, leaving the warden in fear.

The traffic warden had to hide from McDonagh before reporting the incident to gardaí, Swords District Court heard.

McDonagh (aged 22) of Bath Road in Balbriggan pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour on May 14 at Drogheda Street in Balbriggan.

Garda Thomas Tighe said the traffic warden issued a fine to McDonagh as he was parked in a loading bay.

He said McDonagh approached the warden and threw the fine slip at him stating he was only in the loading bay for two minutes.

He then started verbally abusing and threatening the warden.

Gda Tighe said McDonagh called into the garda station as he was signing on at the time and told gardaí that he had an altercation with a warden but would not make a statement.

McDonagh, who has 11 previous convictions, overreacted as he was under financial pressure at the time, his solicitor said.

"He realises his mistake and realises that the penalty today is much higher than if he complied with taking the ticket. He regrets his overreaction," the solicitor said.

Judge Dermot Dempsey remarked that it was not just an overreaction but he "followed the warden and left him in fear".

"The warden had to hide. It's a custodial sentence he has to worry about," said Judge Dempsey and convicted and sentenced McDonagh to two months in prison.

"He has already been given community service and he does not seem to have learnt his lesson," said Judge Dempsey and fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.