Man called his neighbour ‘paedo’ after dispute over noise from flat
A MAN called his neighbour a ‘paedo’ during a dispute over noise from the TV and a vacuum cleaner.
Paul Ireland, 58, pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening and abusive behaviour after the incident at Castle Croft in Dalmellington on September 11 this year.
At a hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court last week, Ireland admitted shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards the neighbour.
Ireland was also in court for a review of a community payback order imposed for a separate offence.
The court heard both the accused and witness were next door neighbours and involved in a longstanding dispute.
Fiscal depute Rosslyn Walsh said: “At 3.10pm witnesses were in the garden and heard the accused shouting “you’re a paedo” to [the neighbour] while standing at the window.
“They challenged the accused who came outside. The accused walked towards them, saying ‘I’m going to get you’.
The witness put herself in-between to stop the situation escalating.”
The accused, Ms Walsh added, stated he was ‘getting them’ and ‘getting boys down to sort’ them.
She continued: “Police were contacted and attended. The accused was traced at 5pm and arrested, cautioned and charged.”
Ireland’s solicitor said: “The complainer had been making issues over noise. His position is he was complaining about hoovering, cutting grass and the volume of the TV.
“He tells me he disclosed this [dispute] to housing but was told to deal with it himself.
“He had been drinking and hoovering then heard banging and lost his temper.”
Sentence was deferred and he will return to court at a later date.