Neighbour row erupts as resident accused of issuing 'anti-English' threats before brandishing hoe

Ferguson admitted to shouting, swearing, and brandishing a garden hoe, as well as struggling with police officers and making racially aggravated threats.

The court heard he threatened to slit a neighbour's throat and even called the fellow resident an "English s*****c".

The incident began around 11am when a scrap metal van entered the street and two men approached a skip.

A neighbour informed the men to leave the skip alone as it contained belongings of a recently deceased resident.

Ferguson emerged from his house shouting and swearing at the two men, becoming further enraged when the neighbour attempted to explain the situation had been resolved.

He then grabbed a garden hoe and began waving it above his head, causing other neighbours to come outside to investigate the commotion.

Ferguson shouted expletives and moved menacingly towards the first neighbour, who had to be pulled away to avoid being struck by the hoe.

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When police were called, Ferguson launched into an aggressive tirade, telling a neighbour "Report me all you want, bitch. I don't give a f**k."

He threatened that someone was "stalking your f**king kids" and called one resident "a nosey old c**t."

Ferguson's son informed two female officers that his father would not speak with them, as he "did not like female police officers."

Upon emerging, Ferguson shouted at the officers to "f**k off" and struggled violently while being handcuffed and placed in a police van.

He then made racist threats towards his neighbour, shouting "I'll slit your throat, you f**king English s*****c."

Sheriff Susan Duff demanded to know "What on earth got into his head?" adding "I hope he's absolutely ashamed of his conduct."

Defence solicitor Shona Westwood responded that Ferguson was "very much regretful and ashamed of all the behaviour."

"What an absolutely shocking way for someone, who appears to be respectable, to act towards neighbours. I hope you're absolutely mortified," the sheriff told Ferguson.

"Yes," Ferguson replied from the dock.

The sheriff imposed a community payback order requiring Ferguson to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and write a letter of apology to the neighbour he had threatened.