A NEIGHBOURHOOD dispute led to threats to burn a house down and a man getting a black eye, Dunfermline Sheriff Court has heard.

Two incidents within three days resulted in Samuel Rockell, 25, of Eastercraig Gardens, Saline, appearing in the dock.

He had reacted badly after hearing threats had been made to his mother by her neighbour and took matters into his own hands.

He admitted that on November 7 at Admiralty Road, Rosyth, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by making threats of violence and threatened to burn down the complainer’s home.

He seized hold of the complainer, struggled with him, whereby both of them fell to the ground and the complainer was injured.

He also admitted that on November 10 at Admiralty Road, Rosyth, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and repeatedly banging and kicking on the door, causing damage to it.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia told the court that the complainer sustained a black eye in the first incident.

Three days later, Rockell returned to the scene and was seen acting aggressively, shouting and swearing by those inside the house.

He started kicking the door, resulting in the glass being broken.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said: “This behaviour was out of character and the background is a neighbour dispute between Mr Rockell’s mother and the complainer, who lives next door to her.

“The dispute has been going on for a number of years and involves noise complaints from his mother.

“He had heard a threat had been made to his mother by the complainer and came across the complainer. He took it upon himself to stop and try to resolve the difficulties.

“Matters escalated and an exchange of words descended into a physical struggle and both of them fell to the ground.”

Sheriff Robert Dickson fined Rockell a total of £1,250.