A man has been fined for brandishing a knife at his flatmate during a racist rant over a dirty microwave.
Security guard Edward Adderley repeatedly told his housemate to clean up after himself during the course of a year.
But on March 12, he lost control of his temper when he found the microwave in a filthy state.
Frustrated by the constant mess in the communal areas, the 60-year-old told the other lodger that he was “useless” and
“undomesticated” and told him to go back to Nigeria.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that as the row continued, Adderley then brandished a kitchen knife at his victim.
Yesterday, he admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner when he appeared at the city’s sheriff court.
Fiscal depute Sophie Hanlon said the offence took place at around midnight at a flat on Hamilton Place, Aberdeen.
She said: “They were within the residential property when Adderley began to argue with the complainer in relation to the condition of the microwave. In the course of the argument the remarks made by the accused were that the complainer was useless and did not fit in.
“He said he should go back to Nigeria and that he was undomesticated.
“The argument continued and the complainer left the kitchen for 10 minutes and thereafter returned. The accused and the complainer continued to argue and the accused pulled out a large kitchen knife from a drawer.”
Ms Hanoln said another witness who was there at the time had to stand in between the pair as Adderley “waved the knife in the air”.
Representing Adderley, solicitor John Hardie said his client had lived at the flat for nine years and the complainer had moved in around 12 months ago.
He said there had always been “tension” between them over the state of the communal areas, but when he had broached the subject previously it had “always fallen on deaf ears” – prompting him to lose his temper on March 12.
Adderley, who has since moved to 1 Cairngrassie Circle, Portlethen, was fined £300.
