A neighbourhood dispute over a communal parking space used by an Angus man “feeling flush” after a benefit payout cost him 160 hours of unpaid work.
Robert Carlin assaulted one neighbour by punching him on the head and threatened another.
He then threatened a couple, banged on the doors of their home and smeared blood on their front door.
Carlin, 46, of High Street, Montrose, pled guilty at an earlier trial diet to the three charges, all of which took place on December 6 2018 outside his home while he was on bail.
Depute Fiscal Jill Drummond told the court there was a shared access to a small car park at the rear of the properties.
At 6.45pm on December 6 one of the neighbours drove his car in to find a motorbike parked in the space he normally used.
Carlin asked him if he liked his bike but was told it should be parked in the alleyway as it could get knocked over.
Another neighbour arrived and saw the accused acting aggressively, waving his arms in the air and speaking loudly.
He had a clenched fist and punched one of the men in the face.
A scuffle broke out during which Carlin suffered a small cut to his head.
One neighbour went to move her car as she was concerned about his behaviour, but her husband shouted to her to go back inside.
Ms Drummond said: “The accused was then banging on their front door and was swearing.
“At 7.10pm police officers arrived, the accused was traced and a small cut to his head was bleeding.”
He received treatment from an ambulance crew but then went on to smear blood on the front door of his neighbours’ home.
He was taken to police headquarters in Dundee where he was cautioned and charged.
Defence agent Nick Markowski told the court his client had been engaging with mental health professionals and had been on medication which unsettled him.
“His medication had changed and he was told to avoid excessive alcohol, which unfortunately he did not.”
His client had received a £1,800 benefit payout and purchased the motorcycle which he parked at the rear of the property.
He said: “We ae all in the habit of parking in the same spot but that ritual was not known to him.
“He had parked and had gone for a drink as he was feeling a bit flush because of the money.
Sheriff Derek Reekie warned Carlin: “It seems to me your neighbours were acting perfectly reasonably.”
He sentenced him to a Community Payback Order with a nine month supervision requirement and ordered him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
