Homophobic abuse

A PENSIONER who admitted dishing out homophobic abuse that forced two neighbours out of the area had her sentence deferred for good behaviour at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

The court heard that 64 year old Lyn Bannister, of 16 Gibblestone Court, Scalloway, routinely shouted abuse at two men who were partners and a gay woman between 1 and 31 October last year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said: “They were subjected to a fairly constant barrage of abuse about their sexuality.”

He added that since the incidents, the female complainer had left the area, as had one of the two men, who was “unable to cope with the abuse”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said that while there were two sides to the neighbourhood dispute, there was no excuse for Bannister’s comments.

He said his client, who was at times sobbing in court, made remarks in the “heat of the moment when she was upset”.

Sheriff Philip Mann concluded everyone should be “entitled to respect…regardless of sexual orientation”.

Hoping the matter might resolve itself when the woman achieved her aim of moving away from the area, the sheriff deferred sentence until 6 January for good behaviour.

He maintained Bannister’s bail condition that she does not contact the complainers.