A NEIGHBOUR dispute over noise ended with a court appearance for one Rosyth man.

Alexander Bauld had experienced issues with noisy neighbours which had led to him and his wife staying in hotels every Friday night for around three months.

After an evening out drinking, a disturbance took place which led to his arrest.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Bauld, 56, of Gillway, admitted that he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner at his home on July 27 when he shouted, swore, acted in an aggressive manner and struck a motor vehicle.

He also, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, had with him an offensive weapon in the form of a kitchen knife.

Depute fiscal Laura McManus said Bauld had been out with his wife and when they got out of a taxi outside their flats, he struck a Vauxhall Corsa which belonged to a neighbour, causing damage costing around £750.

A little later, there was a disturbance in the stairwell during which Bauld came out of his flat with a large kitchen knife.

A witness took it from him and it was later recovered by police.

Solicitor Fraser Napier said his client was "deeply remorseful".

He told the court: "He had been consuming alcohol during the night in question which has had a queer impact on the choices he made. There have been ongoing neighbour disputes between Mr Bauld and those in the home of the Crown witnesses.

"The parties got on but, over time, it deteriorated around noise complaints so much so that they spent Friday nights for three months before the offences in hotels. They had reported instances to the police but to no avail.

"He has little recollection of events that evening. He remembers being in the flat and having disturbances from downstairs. He was unaware that his wife had gone downstairs to complain about the noise. It led to a disturbance between the parties.

"At some stage during the altercation, he became unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he noticed his wife at the bottom of the stairs who was also unconscious. Perhaps a combination of alcohol, lack of clarity and adrenaline has led to him making the decision without regard to the consequences. He has picked up a kitchen knife and had gone downstairs. He had no real intention of actually using the knife."

Sheriff James Macdonald ordered Bauld to pay £700 in compensation.