A MAN from Earlston who was abusive to his disabled neighbours in a late-night confrontation has been fined £400 at Selkirk Sheriff Court. 

Forty-one-year-old Callum Smith, of Thornfield Crescent, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and making threats and comments towards a man and a woman on the night of July 25. 

The offence was aggravated by disability prejudice. 

Prosecutor Fiona Hamilton said Smith had attended outside his neighbours house at 10.40pm and they had been alerted by their dogs barking. 

When they went outside Smith was shouting at the dogs. 

He then started making abusive comments to the couple by swearing and calling them a derogatory name.

Smith added: “I hope you die in your sleep.” 

The incident – which lasted around a minute – was caught on CCTV. 

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said there had been a history of problems in the neighbourhood in relation to car parking.

He explained that on June 28 Smith had come home with his mother who was released from hospital to find police at their door after a complaint about car parking.

The mother only had days to live and he was upset she had to witness this. 

Mr Dow said Smith had been at his mother’s wake and had consumed a lot of alcohol and made the comments which he “deeply regrets”. 

Sheriff Peter Anderson said the comments were “appalling and very hurtful”.

In addition to the fine, a £20 victim surcharge was imposed.