Madethreats towoman

A Perth man, said to have a drink problem, unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade at a neighbour - and then threatened to kill her.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the 23-year-old was so scared that she contacted the police.

Now 52-year-old John Balshaw, of Viewfield Place, has been warned that he faces a prison sentence unless he is fit to carry out unpaid work in the community.

He admitted that on November 2 last year, at Viewfield Place, he stared at the woman, shouted at her, threatened to kill her and acted aggressively towards her.

Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said the accused “appeared intoxicated” during the incident which began about 1.30pm.

He initially stared at the woman and asked her if she got his present.

“That made her feel uncomfortable,” explained the fiscal.

“He then walked closer to her and called her a b **** and a cow.”

He was described as “looking very angry” before he made the kill threat.

Solicitor Linda Clark said he was “very drunk” and there was an alcohol issue.

He is due to take part in a residential programme at a local hospital designed to tackle his alcohol addiction.

A background report indicated that he wasn’t suitable to take part in a Community Payback order.

But the accused didn’t accept that, according to the lawyer.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis agreed to defer sentence until March 8 for the defence to get a GP’s report on his fitness to carry out such work.

A Community Payback order is normally imposed as a direct alternative to a period behind bars.