Frightened neighbour

A MAN who left his 68 year old neighbour “extremely frightened” by banging on her door and shouting aggressively admitted he had behaved like a “bloody pillock” when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Forty nine year old Michael Brook, of Horseshoe Close, Virkie, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly banging on the door and window of the woman’s house.

He also shouted, swore, challenged a male neighbour to a fight and threw a rock through the window of another house.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the incident took place within a small group of houses at Horseshoe Close at around 9pm on 20 August this year. 

When police officers arrived to arrest him, Brook responded: “I’m not bloody interested.”

Representing himself, Brook said he had been “having a go at trying to sort out a confrontation with a neighbour about a dog”.

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He had been drinking whisky and dwelling on the past, but was “quite disgusted” with his actions.

Brook, who said he suffered mental health problems, had since bought flowers for his neighbours and apologised to everyone in the area for his behaviour.

Sheriff Philip Mann said it was to Brook’s credit that he had taken responsibility for the crime, but it remained a “serious offence”.

He deferred sentence until 10 December for a criminal justice social inquiry report.