Man‘like raging bull’ fined

A 62-year-old man was said to be“like a raging bull”when he turned up, uninvited, at his brother’s house in Crieff shortly after midnight.

Scott Anderson was shouting and screaming and had his arms outstretched, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

He then lunged at Archibald Anderson and repeatedly shouted:“Why do you hate me so much?”

The accused was eventually calmed down and his brother walked him home, depute fiscal Michael Sweeney explained.

But less than two weeks later, the accused, of Glenogle Court, Crieff, arrived again at his brother’s home in Burrell Street about 6pm.

Archibald was out and his wife, Irene Anderson, was home alone. When she heard noises outside and saw it was the accused, she ran to the back door to stop him getting in.

He then launched a tirade of abuse at her, branding her“an evil witch.”

He shouted:“I’ll have you...you b***ard.”

He then repeatedly kicked and punched the door handle.

Police were contacted and he was traced outside the property.

But he then told officers:”She’s a witch. I’m going back there to clatter them. I’m going back there to punch him, clout him, smash him.”

Anderson escaped with a £240 fine after the court heard he had stayed out of further trouble the past four months.

He admitted causing uproar at the house in Crieff’s Burrell Street on July 9 and again on July 22 last year by attending uninvited, punching and kicking the door and making threats of violence.

The depute fiscal said Archie Anderson and his wife Irene were watching TV when the first incident took place.

The accused twice asked his brother why he hated him so much.

Solicitor Paul Ralph said there seemed to be“deep-seated family reasons”why the brothers didn’t speak to each other and chose not to socialise.

He wasn’t sure, however, what the “root”of the problem was.

Sheriff Derek Reekie, who had earlier deferred sentence, told the accused:“It’s depressing to see a man of your age appearing on charges of this nature.

“They sound particularly alarming to people who are your relatives. I can’t even speculate what underlies it.”

The deferral would allow the accused to show he had“taken control of himself” and demonstrate that although there were two charges, they were“isolated incidents.”

Imposing the fine at Archibald’s latest court appearance, Sheriff Gillian Wade told him:“You should put this matter behind you.”