Pensioner denies he tormented neighbours over five-year period

Witness claims wife had panic attack as a result of his actions

A pensioner has denied tormenting his neighbours over a five-year-period in a string of incidents.

Michael Waters, 69, is accused of acting aggressively and causing fear and alarm by moving his neighbours’ bins and flower pots, painting a wall purple without permission, and staring at residents between 2011 and 2016 in Keltybridge.

Neighbour Robert Robertson appeared at Perth Sheriff Court as a witness and claimed Walters had left him and his wife “fearful of his unpredictable nature and anger”.

He added that for “some inexplicable reason” Waters seemed to hate them.

Waters denies that between August 4 2011 and November 1 2016, at an address in Keltybridge, Kelty, he engaged in conduct which caused a married couple fear and alarm by repeatedly staring into their property and on occasions taking photographs of them and their property.

Waters also denies repeatedly entering their garden without permission and moving their bins about, painting a garage wall purple without permission, repeatedly shouting and swearing at them, repeatedly removing and interfering with guttering at their house and causing damage to it and to their roof over the same period.

In evidence, Mr Robertson claimed Waters’ behaviour had resulted in his wife being rushed to hospital.

Appearing via video link, Mr Robertson told the court: “There has been no respite really for 12-plus years that we have lived here.

“It would change for about two months or so then boil up again,” he said.

“On one occasion my wife had a panic attack and had to be rushed to hospital. It was an immediate knock-on effect of his actions.”

The court saw pictures and videos purportedly showing Waters on his neighbour’s property.

Solicitor John McLaughlin put it to Mr Robertson that there were logical explanations for his client’s behaviour and that he had been wrong to assume the worst.

Mr Robertson rejected this and said no explanations had ever been communicated to them.

The trial, before Sheriff Derek Reekie, will continue at a later date.

My wife had a panic attack and had to be rushed to hospital. It was an immediate knock-on effect of his actions. ROBERT ROBERTSON