MAKING racially offensive remarks about neighbours and struggling with police officers proved costly for Lochore woman Kirsty Hepburn this week.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Hepburn, 33, of Rosewell Crescent, had previously admitted that on December 8 last year, at Rosewell Crescent, she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by repeatedly shouting, swearing, uttering offensive remarks and threats of violence.

On April 20, at her home, she also behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting, swearing, acting in an aggressive manner, uttering racially offensive remarks and struggling violently with police officers.

Depute fiscal, Jane Rennie, said the incident in December came after Hepburn could hear shouts of a younger child in her neighbour's bathroom.

"The child, not liking water was screaming to get out of the bath and to make fun of the situation, the neighbour made a comment about drowning," she told the Court. "The accused heard this from the garden and started shouting."

When one of them came downstairs to see what the shouting was about, Hepburn told her: "If I see you on the street, I will kill you."

In relation to the April offence, police officers had gone to Hepburn's home regarding other matters and she was acting in an aggressive manner shouting offensive remarks – one of the of a racist nature – about her neighbours.

When a police officer took her arm to escort her down the hallway, she started to lash her arms around and was arrested.

Solicitor, Stephen Morrison, said her client had ongoing difficulties throughout her life and ongoing with the neighbours.

"She has now taken steps to avoid further conflict including using one entrance only to go out of the house and and moves are still afoot to provide her with a different address," he said.

Sheriff Charles Macnair said it was "of concern" that her offending was within a relatively short time in relation to her neighbours.

He admonished her for the December offence and ordered her to pay a fine of £335 for the incident which took place in April.