Demented dad shouted death threats at scared duo
A dad left carers terrified after charging at them as they made home help visits to a vulnerable neighbour.
Alan O’Brien, 39, ranted at the pair after they parked up near his home and told them: “I own you — you are dead.”
He ignored their pleas to leave them alone and began bawling in the middle of the street.
At Paisley Sheriff Court on Friday, the bully admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
Prosecutor Frank Clark told how the brute began “jerking his arms and shouting and swearing”.
He said: “This involved a carer, who had no contact with the accused, she simply had clients in the area.
“She was driven there by a friend, given it was during the hours of darkness.
“She was simply going about her business when she became aware of the accused, as did her friend, who was sitting in the car waiting for her. “He was at his window, looking out. “As she was making her way from her client‘s back to the car, she observed the accused standing nearby and felt uncomfortable. “He was standing outside. “He appeared to be on the phone and she could hear him describe the car.
“She made her way into the car and, when inside, the accused approached and leaned into the window in a threatening manner and asked, ‘what the f**k are you playing at?’”
The women tried to explain why they were visiting, but he fumed: “Is that f*****g right? Get to f**k. I own you. You are dead.”
Mr Clarke added: “Both ladies were very frightened, to the extend one was shaking so much she was having problems trying to dial the police number on her mobile phone.”
O’Brien pounced as the pair completed their rounds in Rashieburn, Erskine, around 8.45pm on April 18.
The court heard O’Brien suffers from mental illness and believed the women were targeting him.
He claims he received death threats and his motor had been damaged in the lead-up to the outburst.
Defence lawyer Tony Callahan revealed his client believes former lovers are conspiring against him.
He said: “He was at home and sees a woman in a car sitting directly outside his house for some period of time.
“His perception was clouded by his condition and thought the woman was looking in his house.
“He left his home in a high state of anxiety — it was entirely his mistake.
“He was receiving anonymous threats and his car had been vandalised.
“His perception is that this was caused by the union of his ex-partner and his exwife at the time his relationship with his ex-partner was breaking down.”
The thug was also rapped for sending a letter to his ex-wife —despite a court order banning contact.
Sheriff Craig Harris fined O’Brien £220 for terrifying the women and £180 for sending the note.
He said: “It’s particularly disappointing when somebody of your age, who has not been convicted before, appears on not one, but two matters.
“These were two people going about their business and providing a vital service to the community.
“You verbally abused them to the extent they were quite frankly terrified.”