Brute batters his neighbour

Man escapes jail after nasty assault

A man landed in the dock for beating up another in a neighbourly dispute.

Darren Boyd, of Thornyflat Street in Ayr, admitted to assaulting David Mackie on July 22 this year at McLean Street in Ayr.

He also owned up to uttering threats of violence towards him.

Boyd appeared before Sheriff Scott Pattison at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard how the 31- yearold ‘ repeatedly punched’ Mr Mackie on the head.

Depute Fiscal Andrew Lazzarin explained: “At around 4pm, the complainers were at their home when they heard a noise and went to see what it was. There was a household item lying in the garden. They went to speak to the neighbour about why this was there.

“The accused was in the neighbour’s house and assaulted the complainer by repeatedly punching him on the head.

“The complainer then went home and the accused went back into the neighbour’s house. The police were contacted and the complainer had a small cut on his lip - he was taken to A& E.

“Police were unable to find the accused as he had left the neighbours house at that time.

“On another occasion, it seems that the complainers were driving to the locus and the accused was shouting towards them saying, “I am going to kick your c** t in”.

“Police were contacted again about these matters.”

Defending Boyd, Tony Currie added that Mr Mackie was the neighbour of his partner and there had been “ongoing issues” between them.

He said: “These incidents were because of his partner’s ongoing issues with the complainer.

“She was receiving ongoing complaints from them.

“He had been at his partner’s house at the moment the complainer came to the door, who was kicking the door and was challenging towards his partner.

“She was heavily pregnant at the time.”

Mr Currie added that there has been no further issues in the interim and the couple are hoping to relocate.

Sheriff Pattison said: “I was considering sending you to jail - you need to know that this type of violence cannot continue.”

As an alternative to custody, Sheriff Pattison ordered Boyd to carry out a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work to be completed in nine months..