A taxi driver who was in dispute with his neighbours took revenge on them by secretly vandalising their cars over a 10-day period.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 57-year-old Craig Roy of Greenwood Court, Milton of Leys, inflicted scratches on the bonnet, wheel arches and rear panels of six cars, including a Mercedes, an Alfa Romeo and a Mini between March 24 and April 6 this year.
It was not revealed at Inverness Sheriff Court what his motive was as Sheriff Gary Aitken called for a background report before hearing the facts from fiscal depute Anna Chisholm.
But he warned Roy that custody was a “real possibility.”
The Sheriff asked Laura-Jane Macnaughton if there was an underlying issue “like mental illness.”
But Miss Macnaughton told him that there wasn’t. “It was retaliation due to a neighbourhood dispute.
“There have been no further issues since and he is trying to sell his property and move elsewhere.”
The Sheriff responded: “So it is pure badness. These were entirely deliberate retaliatory actions.”
The lawyer said her client had made enquiries about repairing all the damage and got an estimate of £100 per car.
The Sheriff commented: “I would be surprised if it is as little as that. I would have thought it would be more like thousands of pounds.”
He told Roy: “It is expensive to re-spray cars. I will get a background report to see what options there are.
“But custody is a very real possibility. If you keep your liberty, then I suggest you start saving to pay for the repairs.”
Roy will re-appear for sentence on May 24.
