Unpaid work for blood-smearing biker after neighbour bust-up

A neighbourhood dispute over a communal parking space landed an Angus man with 160 hours of unpaid work.

Robert Carlin assaulted one neighbour by punching him on the head and threatened another. He then threatened a couple, banged on the doors of their home and smeared blood on their front door.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard he had been “feeling flush” after a benefits payout.

Carlin, 46, of High Street, Montrose, previously pled guilty to charges relating to the incident on December 6 last year.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court there was a shared access to a small car park at the rear of the properties.

At 6.45pm one of the neighbours drove his car in to find Carlin’s motorbike parked in the space he normally used and the row broke out. The neighbour told Carlin it should be parked in the alleyway as it could get knocked over.

He punched one man in the face and suffered a cut to his own head.

When emergency services arrived Carlin smeared blood on the front door of his neighbour’s home.

Solicitor Nick Markowski said Carlin had received an £1,800 benefit payout and bought the motorbike.

“He had parked and had gone for a drink as he was feeling a bit flush because of the money,” the solicitor added.

Sheriff Derek Reekie warned Carlin: “It seems to me your neighbours were acting perfectly reasonably.”

He imposed a nine-month supervision requirement alongside the unpaid work element of the community payback order.