A Fife woman bowed her head in shame as a court heard how she screamed abuse at her same-sex neighbours, branding them “dirty”.
Jacqueline Ann Hobbs also spat on one of the gay men during the sickening homophobic assault.
On Thursday, the 41-year-old, of Main Street, Guardbridge, admitted charges of abusive behaviour and assault, both of which were aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
Cupar Sheriff Court heard the offences took place just yards from her front door on March 25. Hobbs, who has never been in trouble before, looked shamefaced as depute fiscal Laura McLaughlin recounted details of the crimes.
“The two complainers involved are partners residing together at the locus,” she told the court. “They have lived there for approximately three months. The accused is a neighbour and they had had very little contact with her over that period.”
However, at about 7.30pm on the day in question, Hobbs exploded at the pair following what appeared to be a completely straightforward and everyday exchange.
“The complainers opened the front door to let their dog out into a landing area as the accused was coming out of her property,” Ms McLaughlin said. “The accused said something to (one of the men) and he did not hear so said, ‘Pardon?’
“At that point she became very agitated and began to shout at them, making reference to them being ‘dirty’.”
Hobbs then appeared to challenge the bewildered duo to a fight, inquiring, “Do you want a Glasgow kicking?”
Ms McLaughlin added, “The accused then spat at one of the complainers before going back into her own home.”
Appalled by what they had had to endure, Hobbs’s victims called the police.
Solicitor Alan Davie admitted his client’s actions were hard to explain and impossible to justify.
“This offence was extremely unusual for someone of Ms Hobbs’s age and previous good character,” he said. “There is no excuse for her actions and she does not seek to minimise what she has done.
“Ms Hobbs is very unlikely to ever appear before this court again,” the defence agent added.
Momentary aberration or not, Sheriff Charles Macnair branded the offences “extremely serious.”
“You took against your neighbours purely on the grounds of sexual orientation,” he said. “That sort of behaviour is unacceptable.
“Society tolerates people of all sexual persuasions … people can expect to live in peace regardless of whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.”
Hobbs was ordered to carry out a community payback order involving 120 hours of unpaid work.