Woman breached order with loud party

A nightmare neighbour breached her anti-social behaviour order by hosting a rowdy party to celebrate her 30th birthday during lockdown.

Bobby Gibson was caught with more people in her Whitfield Rise home than she was allowed on February 19.

She is subject to a strict order preventing her from playing loud music, shouting and having more than two people in her house.

Guests who attended Gibson’s home were issued with fixed penalty notices by police for breaking lockdown restrictions.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard how fed-up neighbours sent an email to police to report excessive noise at 10.30pm on the night in question.

When officers attended nobody was present but four females later attended the address to collect their belongings.

At 1.50am, Gibson attended a police office looking for her house keys.

The court heard she was cautioned and charged and made no response.

Gibson pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of her anti-social behaviour order, granted in March 2018, by playing a soundproducing device likely to cause alarm and distress as well as having more than two people in her property.

She also contravened coronavirus regulations by hosting a gathering in her home.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence for reports.

The Scottish Government acted outwith its constitutional powers by ordering churches to close, a court has been told.

Communal worship has been banned under coronavirus legislation, however, the first minister has announced it will be able to restart from Friday March 26, and the previously proposed limit on congregations of 20 will be increased to 50.

At a virtual hearing of the Court of Session yesterday, the group of 27 church leaders launched a judicial review to argue ministers acted outwith their powers by ordering the closures, and are continuing their case to prevent instances in future.

Janys Scott QC, representing the group, said: “Not only is the exercise of Christian ministry – in accordance with the scriptures – a crime, a police officer in the execution of his duty can break up a church service.”

The court was told there is a constitutional settlement separating the powers of the church and state.

She added: “The reality of this settlement is that in banning public, corporate worship, this government has undoubtedly crossed a line of that which is the exclusive domain of the church.”

Ms Scott accepted the state could give guidance on numbers who should assemble – which leaders were willing to follow – but it could not impose restrictions.

It was heard petitioners “stand on the shoulders of Covenanters”, with some accounts reporting 18,000 had died during the 1680s to “defend the church from interference of the state” in Scotland.

The hearing before judge Lord Braid continues.

Bobby Gibson.