Threatened neighbours

A JOINER from Lerwick who threatened his neighbours after becoming annoyed by banging noises they made during renovation work has been fined £300.

Adam Sharp, of Market Street, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to shouting, swearing, uttering threats and behaving in an aggressive manner at his home address on 15 October.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 31 year old was already frustrated with his neighbours after they had put up a gate on a communal footpath.

He said the incident, which ultimately saw him make threats of violence against their children and property, took place over a period of around three hours.

Sharp’s behaviour meant that the complainers were too afraid to leave their house, and were fearful to even to let their dog out.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said on the day of the offence, his client had returned from the pub and was alone in the house.

He heard noises from his neighbours upstairs and he banged back, but it did not stop, prompting Sharp to “say things he shouldn’t have said”.

Allan said his client is in the process of buying the house in question and wants to get on with his neighbours.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Sharp that he needs to be “big enough” to deal with these sort of things and warned him that he “can’t take the law into his own hands”.

Fining him, the sheriff said: “This is not the way to get on with your neighbours”.