SHOUTING an homophobic comment to neighbours and causing a disturbance in which he "appeared to be arguing with himself" resulted in a Court appearance for a self employed roofer from Lochgelly this week.

Derek Jones, 52, of Burgh Court, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday after previously admitting that on December 13 last year at a property in Burgh Court, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, making a homophobic remark and threatening violence towards two neighbours.

He also admitted that between June 9 and 10 last year, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm at his home by repeatedly shouting, swearing and repeatedly striking the floor there and kicking the walls.

Depute fiscal, Claire Bremner, said the witnesses lived in a flat directly below the accused. At around 4.30pm, one of the downstairs neighbours heard Jones shouting and swearing. They could hear him kicking doors and striking his floor.

The behaviour continued and members of the community team attended at 3.25am and also heard him shouting and swearing aggressively.

"He appears to be having an argument with himself," said Ms Bremner. "Police officers were contacted and they attended and found the accused was in the property alone and was intoxicated."

After Jones was warned to quieten down, police left and Jones' behaviour soon restarted and went on until 10.30am when Police were contacted again and he was arrested.

The other incident took place at around 6.15am on December 13, when the couple were woken up when they heard Jones in his flat.

"They heard him shout, 'I am going to kill you dyke'. They were concerned and later the next day, contacted the police and he was arrested," added Ms Bremner.

Defence solicitor, Sarah Meehan, said the incident was born out of a neighbourhood dispute. "There had been difficulties between the parties," she said.

"He advises me he had been under the influence of alcohol at the time and, while he can not remember making the specific threat, he accepts he must have done give the evidence before the Court.

"Based on hindsight, he should never have made such a comment and it was inappropriate."

The offence in June took place after Jones had been consuming alcohol throughout the night. "He accepts he was banging on the floors and the walls, however, he indicates in the report that was in response to a football match he was watching and that was at his frustration at the football match.

"As his recollection is hazy due to the amount of alcohol consumed, he accepts it would have been concerning for them."

Sheriff Craig McSherry placed Jones on a Community Payback Order with supervision for nine months. He was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation of £250 to his neighbour.