Man hid in ex-partner’s garden

A man found hiding in his former partner’s garden shouted abuse and threatened violence when he was spotted.

The incident on South Street, Cowdenbeath, resulted in a £1,000 fine for Mark Brown, 43, of Macbeth Road, Dunfermline. He admitted that on July 28 he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner.

Depute fiscal Jane Rennie told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that Brown and complainer Stacey Orr had previously had a three-year relationship.

A friend of Ms Orr was in her garden taking the dogs for a walk when the accused was seen hiding behind a tree.

He told the man that he was “welcome to her” before walking away. Ms Orr then heard Brown shouting offensive remarks about her.

Brown had also told the friend, “I’m going to bury you” and that he was “getting it”.

“This was taken by those present as a threat to kill him,” added the depute.

Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said that even when the couple split up, they would still get together sometimes.

“On this occasion he went around to her property to see her and saw her other ‘ex’ in the garden,” he said, and committed the offence in the “heat of the moment”.

Sheriff Alison McKay highlighted Brown’s list of previous offences and told him: “The comments you made about Ms Orr were just horrible.”