Contact ban for homophobe

A BIGOTED Dundee resident who stalked her former neighbours has been ordered not to go near them for three years.

Carol Borland previously admitted engaging in a course of conduct which caused two women in Alyth fear or alarm between March and April.

Borland, 56, repeatedly shouted and swore at them, repeatedly approached them in an intimidating manner, made a threat of violence towards them, threatened to damage their property and referred to them in a derogatory way.

It was revealed she has since moved to Polepark in Dundee when she was sentenced at Perth Sheriff Court.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode explained Borland’s old neighbours on Springbank Road, Alyth, had left their home with suitcases and plans to head to Aberdeen on March 13.

Borland began walking along the path and started shouting: “There you are, lesbians.”

One of the women began recording on her phone and Borland went back to her stairs.

She later told the women outside their home: “I’ll take no prisoners, I’ll kick your f***ing head in.”

They drove off but returned shortly after, fearing Borland may damage their property.

On their second effort to leave, Borland stood on the pavement and insulted them.

She told the women they had forgotten ornaments and she would put them in the bin and smash them.

The women described Borland at this point as being “unpredictable”.

They drove off but returned again later and police were called.

Borland’s solicitor Mike Tavendale said his client was treated as “Crazy Carol” in the east Perthshire town.

He explained: “She’s now moved house.

“I think this is a similar offence to what there is on her record as her last conviction.

“She’s a lady who has had her share of misfortune.

“She’s struggled with mental health issues.

“She has had an alcohol problem for a number of years.

“The situation in Alyth where she was residing exacerbated matters.

“Since her partner died, she was desperate to get away from Alyth.

“When she left her house, she would be subjected to taunts from children – not the complainers in this case.”

He said: “Whenever she left, she was being filmed by these complainers.

“She felt she was under siege.

“She would regularly have things thrown at her windows and doors and people knocking on her door and running away.

“I think she was completely isolated in Alyth.

“The alcohol was still there, the consumption is much reduced.

“She’s not likely to return to Alyth. She is currently subject to supervision.”

Sheriff Keith O’Mahony said: “This is a particularly ugly offence.”

He placed her on an eight-week restriction of liberty order and added a further year and a half of supervision.

Borland must also not contact the two women she stalked for three years.

Last year, Borland used a homophobic slur as she subjected the same neighbours to weeks of abuse.

She appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards them on various occasions between July 25 and August 21.

In 2013, she was convicted of hurling a glass at a man she did not know at the Alyth Hotel.

She refused to leave the popular venue after shouting at the man, before scratching his face and throwing the glass, which narrowly missed.

Borland abused the couple while they were neighbours.