FYVIE MAN FINED FOR THREATENING NEIGHBOUR AND FAMILY
A man who relocated to an Aberdeenshire village with the intention of seeking a peaceful life has been fined for threatening to kill his neighbour.Norman Gordon, aged 58, of Priory Cottages, admitted to threatening behaviour at Banff Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
The court was informed that during an argument with a man who is his neighbour in Fyvie, Gordon also threatened to have the neighbour's mother murdered.According to fiscal depute Kirsty Martin, the incident occurred on November 18 last year.
She explained that Gordon's target lived opposite him, and that his mother had visited him earlier that day before Gordon went outside to catch a bus around 8:30 pm.
The prosecutor stated, "On doing so, the accused exited his flat and stood at the main entrance way.
He started engaging the complainer.
The accused then shouted across the street at the complainer, stating 'when my daughter gets out of jail she’s killing your mum and I’m killing you'.” The exchange was recorded by the man on his phone and later given to the police.Gordon's lawyer, Stuart Beveridge, mentioned that there had been previous issues between the men, and claimed the victim’s mother had initially made threats towards Gordon, which upset him.
Beveridge added that Gordon had been reflecting on these incidents, and he acknowledged that he acted impulsively when he made his comments.
He stated, “He’d been thinking about it and when he saw [the complainer] leaving his flat he accepts he went outside and made comments.
There’s been no further issues between the two of them since November.
Mr Gordon had in fact moved out of Aberdeen to get away from this sort of behaviour.
He got himself into lots of trouble over the years and he moved out to Fyvie for a quiet life.
He apologises for his behaviour, as I said, he was trying to put this sort of thing behind him.”In sentencing, Sheriff Robert McDonald described his actions as "totally unacceptable." He emphasized that although there may have been bad behaviour on the neighbour’s part, Gordon’s shouting and threats were unjustifiable.
The sheriff declared, “It’s completely unacceptable and there have to be consequences for that.
I’m treating it for what it is and I’m largely ignoring your record.” Gordon was fined £300, which he will pay back at £20 per month.
Upon hearing the court's decision, Gordon replied, “Excellent, thank you very much.”
