A Cumnock man who turned up at his neighbour’s door with a baseball bat before repeatedly striking it was fined after losing his temper over noise complaints.

Thomas McHarg, 52, admitted causing fear and alarm through the threatening behaviour on Monday, March 8 this year when he appeared before Ayr Sheriff Court last month [Monday, March 22].

The court heard neighbours were asleep in the property when residents staying in Skerrington Place, Cumnock suddenly heard a loud banging sound.

The Procurator Fiscal said: “Neighbours heard the banging then observed the accused hitting the door of the property with a baseball bat.

“Police attended an hour later and the accused was arrested, cautioned and charged.”

Defence solicitor Glenn Davis said: “Mr McHarg lived below the couple for some time and was subjected to excessive noise, which he attempted to solve amicably, but nothing came to pass.

“He felt subjected to undue noise and instead of biting his tongue he decided he would give neighbours some of what they had been giving him all night long.”

He told the court his client “immediately felt stupid” after the incident and went back into his home when he realised the attention he had brought on himself in the street.

Mr Davis added his client knew he “shouldn’t have allowed himself at 52” to act out and that there was no damage to the door.

Sheriff Siobhan Connelly said: “This is not the way to resolve a neighbour dispute.”

McHarg was fined £200 – discounted from £300 due to his early guilty plea – plus a government victim surcharge payment of £10.

Any disputes with neighbours or any alleged criminality in the area can be reported to Police Scotland officers on 101.