A Falklands War veteran who pointed an air rifle at a neighbour sparked an armed police operation around his Forfar home.
William Gibson had been drinking and fell out with his partner when the man walked by his home in Lordburn Place.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy told Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday that the 58-year-old shouted at the man before producing the rifle and aiming it at the complainer last May.
“It had a long barrel and a sight attached,” added the fiscal.
The complainer contacted police immediately and the area was cordoned off before the arrival of specialist firearms officers, who took over the operation and gained entry to Gibson’s house.
He told them: “I’ve been waiting on you. It’s in there. I pointed it at that idiot across the road.”
The fiscal said the rifle was in two parts when it was found, but was capable of firing pellets.
Defence solicitor Bob Bruce told the court his client was in the army for 22 years and had served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, where he was involved in a firefight with Argentinian forces at the battle for Mount Tumbledown.
“The barrel was pointed out of the window, but it would have been alarming,” said the solicitor.
“He is a man who has served his country well and is ashamed that he is appearing in court.
“He knows it was wrong and that it caused alarm,” added the solicitor. “The whole theme running through the social work report is one of contrition.”
Sheriff Veal told Gibson: “A knowledge of firearms is no use when you have been drinking. By going to the window, everyone was at risk.”
He said that were it not for the fact that Gibson was his partner’s full-time carer, he could have gone to jail.
Sheriff Veal imposed a two-year community payback order with a condition of 200 hours’ unpaid work, and ordered forfeiture of the air rifle and pellets found at the accused’s home.