A pensioner has narrowly avoided jail after he attacked his “noisy neighbours” with a shinty stick and a hammer.
Ivan Elrick reacted angrily when he was kept awake one evening by fellow Aberdeen tower block residents, Imants Zacs and Kelly MacDonald.
But instead of politely asking the pair to keep the noise down the 65-year-old armed himself and stormed upstairs to 49 Thistle Court before battering on the door.
He then hit Mr Zacs on the body with a shinty stick and threw a hammer at Ms MacDonald, also striking her on the body.
Both victims suffered minor injuries in the attacks on April 2.
Yesterday the pensioner appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to be sentenced, having previously admitted committing the assaults when he appeared in court last month.
Sentence on Elrick had been deferred for reports.
Representing him yesterday, solicitor Peter Keene said his client lived on his own and on the evening of the attacks he had been unable to get to sleep because of the noise.
He said Elrick had complained about the noise coming from upstairs before but had left “sporting a black eye”, so decided to arm himself before heading upstairs.
Mr Keene said he took the weapons in the hope he would not end up being assaulted. However, on this occasion Elrick was the one to lay the blows.
Sheriff Alison Stirling said the offences had been “very serious indeed” given that he “armed himself with two separate implements before using them”.
She ordered Elrick, of 31 Thistle Court, Aberdeen, to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in 12 months and placed him under supervision for a year.
The sheriff also warned the pensioner that if he failed to carry out the order he would be sent to jail.