A woman threw a pot plant at her neighbour’s window and repeatedly struck it with a kids’ swing ball set after she “took umbrage” to comments, a court has heard.
Sharon Geddes left her neighbours scared for their children’s safety when she shouted abuse over their garden gate.
Elgin Sheriff Court was told that relations between the Forres neighbours, both described as being at fault in the past, had become “less than cordial”.
Geddes, 43, had “allowed things to escalate” and had hit out after drinking alcohol, her solicitor said.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said Geddes was first spotted hanging over her neighbours’ garden fence at around 10.40pm on March 8 last year.
Asked neighbour for a ‘square go’
She said the family was inside when they heard a loud bang outside and looked out to see her leaving over the garden fence and shouting abuse their way.
“In particular, she asked the man to attend outside for a ‘square go’. She was also observed to call him a pussy,” she said.
“She was also heard to shout at the woman, repeatedly stating ‘f*** you, fat bitch’.”
Things escalated further with the involvement of garden games and plants, though.
Used swing bat set to strike windows
“The woman heard a loud bang and believed it to be the back window being smashed,” the fiscal added. “She called the police because she was fearful for her safety and that of her children.
“The accused was seen to throw a plant pot at the window.
“She was also seen to strike a kids swing ball set against the window several times before throwing it to the ground.
“She then retreated.”
Geddes, of Castlehill Road, Forres, admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.
Her defence agent Ben Thom said relations between the neighbours of three years were “less than cordial on both sides”.
‘Things were allowed to escalate’
“It was an unhappy relationship between the homes but things appeared to have calmed down of late,” the solicitor said. “She advises me that, by way of background, alcohol had been a factor.
“She felt certain comments had been directed towards her that she took umbrage with. “Things were allowed to escalate.
“Ms Geddes has also felt the need to report some matters to the police as a victim herself.”
Sheriff Robert McDonald said he “couldn’t ignore Geddes’ record” and handed her a one-year supervision order and 80 hours of unpaid work.
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