A Moray man who launched a metal pole through a neighbour’s front door appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
Ryan Imlach, 38, hurled the bar through the glass panelling after “squaring up” with friends of the occupants moments before.
The incident, which caused £262 worth of damage, happened at 5pm on Tuesday, May 26.
Imlach, of 20 Mossend Place, Elgin, admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property and striking a window with a metal pole and breaking it.
He also admitted resisting and obstructing a police officer in the execution of his work and “struggling violently” while he was being apprehended.
Fiscal depute Kevin Corrins told the court: “At 5pm on the night in question the occupants of 18 Mossend Place became aware of a loud and aggressive noise at the front door.
“They heard a shout and recognised the voice as that of the accused.
“Then, without any warning, a metal pole came flying through the glass pane of the door.
“When the police arrived the accused stated ‘I smashed it’.”
The fiscal said the pole came from a weight bench in the communal hallway between the two properties.
Imlach struggled with the arresting officers and had to be wrestled to the ground before he was brought under control.
His solicitor Stephen Carty said: “My client and the partner of his neighbour don’t have much of a liking for each other.
“That day two gentlemen exiting his neighbour’s home bumped into him, and a slight squaring up followed.
“My client accepts he was somewhat angry about this, and accepts he broke the window.”
Sheriff Jack Brown said: “To launch a metal pole through someone’s door is entirely unacceptable.”
The sheriff deferred sentence on Imlach until next month to allow for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports.
