A man has appeared in court in his dressing gown and pyjamas after spending the weekend in custody following an angry confrontation with his neighbour.
Alan Henry, 50, phoned the police himself after banging on his upstairs neighbour’s door and shouting about how much noise they were making.
The startled neighbour and a friend had been making dinner and denied making too much noise.
Henry then called the police but found himself hauled into custody in his nightclothes for his aggressive behaviour during the confrontation.
‘Witnesses felt frightened and threatened’
Fiscal depute Kiril Bonavino told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Henry’s neighbour had moved into the block of flats on Chapel Street in March this year and had become aware of Henry “through numerous interactions”.
He said: “The accused complained about noise being made by the witness at her address.
“The witness was extremely cautious within her own home so as not to frustrate or anger the accused.”
Mr Bonavino said the neighbour was at home around 9pm on Friday talking to a friend and making dinner.
He said: “No excess noise was being made.”
The pair then heard “hard, repeated knocking” at the door and “assumed it to be the accused due to the aggressive manner of knocking”.
‘He has difficulty controlling his emotions’
The knocking continued for “a period of time” with the neighbour “too scared to open the door”.
Her friend did eventually open the door and asked Henry to leave them alone.
Mr Bonavino said: “The accused immediately began to shout at the witnesses, saying they should be quiet and threatening to contact the police.
“The accused had an aggressive stance and both witnesses felt frightened and threatened by him.”
Henry returned to his own flat and phoned the police to complain about the noise coming from his neighbour’s flat.
Henry, of Chapel Street, Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence agent John Hardie said there had been an increase in his client’s offending during the pandemic.
He explained Henry suffered from mental health issues and added: “It’s also clear he has difficulty controlling his emotions.
‘I’m hoping this has taught you a lesson’
“Unfortunately, neighbours are likely to experience some unwelcome and unpleasant behaviour from him.
“There was noise coming from the flat directly above him.
“He attended at the door in the hope he could persuade them to keep the noise down.
“He was met with a denial that there was any noise and he lost his temper.
“He has been in custody since Friday night.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston fined Henry, who appeared in court wearing a dressing gown, £200, but immediately remitted the fine due to the time he spent in custody over the weekend.
She warned: “In future, if you’re experiencing any difficulties with your neighbours in terms of noise, you can’t deal with it in this way.
“I’m hoping this has taught you a lesson.
“Next time just call the police.”
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