A man who repeatedly fired an air rifle in a residential estate warned a neighbour he “wanted blood” after he was reported to the police.
Portgordon resident Jordan Humphrey balanced the gun on a bin in his back garden while shooting at nearby birds.
After hearing the shots for two days concerned neighbours reported the 22-year-old to the police.
When officers attended at his Tannachy Terrace home they found several pellets embedded in the back door, which had been used as target practice.
Yesterday Humphrey appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously admitting recklessly discharging the gun on April 24 and 25 last year.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins said he had been seen tracing the movement of birds in nearby woodland before taking aim and firing at them.
The court heard Humphrey fired up to 10 shots over the two days.
Mr Corrins added: “A number of people who had been outside were concerned, particularly because the area is a busy residential street with lots of children and pets.
“The police attended and found pellets lodged in the back of the property. It appeared to be used as some form of target practice.
“When they looked over the fence they saw a number of feathers, which indicated either distressed or flying birds had been in the area.”
After being reported to the police Humphrey confronted a neighbour he suspected of speaking to officers.
Mr Corrins read text messages from Humphrey to Keith Calder, which said the accused “wanted blood” and “didn’t care if he went back to jail”.
Defence solicitor Brent Lockie said his client was not thinking rationally at the time and his behaviour improved in recent years.
He added: “He was foolish. After taking possession of the gun he used it for target shooting but appears to have succumbed to temptation.”
Humphrey was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to do 135 hours of unpaid work after admitting recklessly discharging the air rifle by repeatedly firing at wild birds and sending a menacing text message that repeatedly threatened Mr Calder with violence on April 26.
