A retired banker who set out to avenge the death of his dog armed with a hammer and a knife has been banned from his home village.
Alexander Boyd attacked Peter and Helen Gallosi in their Black Isle home and later told police he had wanted to kill the couple.
He also told officers he had planned to kill another neighbour before returning home to kill his wife and “possibly” himself.
After spending the last six months in custody, the 76-year-old former bank manager walked free from Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
But he was banned from the upmarket village of North Kessock where he lived just a few doors away from his victims and is now the subject of a supervision order.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said: “This is a serious and worrying case, both from the point of view of your conduct and your inability to recollect your behaviour.
“As you are a 76 year old man, a first offender and you have served the equivalent of a year’s jail sentence whilst on remand, unpaid work is not necessary due to your age and infirmity.”
Boyd, of 79 Drumsmittal Road, had previously admitted assaulting Mr Gallosi in his home and brandishing a knife and a hammer and attempting to strike him with them.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court that a year before the attack, the Gallosis told police that Boyd’s dog had bitten someone, and the animal was later put down.
Mr Urquhart said Mr Gallosi was in his conservatory when Boyd appeared outside at around 2pm on August 3.
When asked what he was doing, Boyd replied: “I’m not here to see you, I’m here to see your wife.”
He then lunged towards Mr Gallosi and tried to strike him with a six-inch kitchen knife.
Mr Urquhart said: “Peter Gallosi grabbed hold of his wrists to prevent him stabbing him and shouted to his wife to phone the police.
“He managed to gain possession of the knife and his wife removed it from the conservatory and dialled 999.”
Mr Urquhart said Boyd then produced a hammer from his waistband, and lifted it above his head as if to strike.
Mr Gallosi grabbed it and managed to force the pensioner down to the ground.
Mrs Gallosi then managed to get the hammer.
The couple’s daughter alerted a neighbour, telling him that “the Husky man” had attacked her father.
Boyd was heard to say: “You’ve all killed my dog. None of you want us here. We thought we’d found the perfect retirement home.”
When police arrived they found Boyd sitting on the couch.
When he saw the officers, he said: “I am the one you want. I’m the guilty one.”
Police cautioned and arrested Boyd and he replied: “I wish I’d murdered them.”
Boyd, who told police he was suffering from depression and cancer, spent the last six-and-a-half months in custody.
He will remain under the supervision of social workers for 18 months.
