A 70-year-old who abused fellow pensioners in Caithness has been ordered at Wick Sheriff Court to stay out of trouble for a year .
John Sinclair, of Heatherlea, Brough, shouted and swore at a couple aged 70 and 71, and repeatedly sounded his car horn at a 69-year-old.
Sinclair also made rude hand gestures at two other people.
He admitted three charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, between April and October, last year.
He was given a year to demonstrate there would be no recurrence of such incidents.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said he understood there had been “some sort of issues” between various parties in Brough but was “not privy” to the background.
The fiscal added: “It appears that, against this background, Sinclair acted in the manner described in the charges.
“This had something of nuisance value to those affected by the accused’s behaviour.”
The fiscal said that he had discussed the matter with the police on more than one occasion and there had been a suggestion that while Sinclair’s behaviour was unacceptable there was a third party “spurring him on” to commit the offences.
Mr Barclay suggested that a good behaviour bond might be the sentencing answer in keeping the peace among the various people involved in the situation.
Sheriff Andrew Berry described it as “sensible disposal”. In making the year-long good behaviour order, he said it was important there was no repetition of the behaviour by Sinclair, a first offender.