A MEARNS farmer who sent threatening and sexually explicit letters to neighbours over a five-month period was yesterday fined £500, prompting an outburst in court from one of the victims of his poison pen campaign.

Garry Hourston (38) who farms at Nether Woodston, St Cyrus, sent the obscene letters to Gillian and Patrick Tully who own the East Bowstrips caravan park in the village.

Hourston also sent an indecent and obscene letter to village resident, Mary Rose.

Sheriff Patrick Davies said he recognised that the catalogue of offences had no doubt been very distressing for those who received the communications from Hourston.

But he had taken into consideration that Hourston was a first offender, also the contents of a psychiatric report which indicated his behaviour was the direct result of an illness from which he had now recovered.

In the gallery, Mr Tully shook his head in disbelief and was warned by Sheriff Davies that his actions could constitute contempt.

When Mr Tully spluttered, “I am just disgusted,” Sheriff Davies warned, “Will you please leave the courtroom before you are held in contempt.”

Outside the building, Mr Tully said, “This is not justice.”

Angry that the full contents of all the letters had not been disclosed in court, Mr Tully said he was now prepared to make them public. In tears, Mrs Tully added, “It was horrible to receive these things. They made our lives a misery. It has taken months to get this resolved, all for a fine of just £500.”

Also in tears, Mrs Rose said, “I find life in the village so uncomfortable now. I have known the Hourston family a long time. I have never done the laddie any harm.”

Hourston had previously admitted sending letters to Mr and Mrs Tully at the caravan park on approximately eight occasions between December 10, 2002 and May 14, 2003. He also admitted breaking the peace and placing them in a state of fear and alarm.

The letters threatened the couple with violence, and made indecent and offensive comments and suggestions. One contained a sealed condom.

Hourston also admitted sending an indecent and obscene written communication to Mrs Rose on or about February 28, although she never opened it.

All but three of the letters sent to Mr and Mrs Tully were intercepted or unopened because they had immediately informed the police and Royal Mail on receipt of the first communication.

The court heard that because Hourston lived in the same community, he was well acquainted with the couple and Mrs Rose.

Hourston lives with his parents and is a partner in the farming business which owns land adjacent to the caravan park.

The court was also told that Hourston had never been very outgoing, but had become even more withdrawn following a car accident three years ago in which he suffered head injuries.

But he had been annoyed by complaints from Mr and Mrs Tully when straw was burned on nearby land. He was also upset by an alleged breach of his privacy when Mr Tully began to use CCTV to monitor the area around the caravan park after an unrelated planning dispute.

Hourston had co-operated fully with police when he was arrested and admitted his actions immediately. Defence agent John Scott said yesterday, “Mr Hourston has more and more come to appreciate the distress he has caused to the complainants by his actions.”

As an indication of the nature of Hourston’s psychiatric illness, Mr Scott said it was only when arrested Hourston realised what he had done. Until then he had believed his actions were being carried out by someone else.