Road dispute crofter threatened posties for delivering mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Road dispute crofter threatened posties for delivering mail to neighbours

http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/News ... 052014.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A SUTHERLAND crofter aged 75 threatened postmen delivering mail to his neighbours by hurling abuse and brandishing a spanner on one occasion.

Tain Sheriff Court was told on Monday that David Moss didn’t believe Royal Mail postmen had the right to drive up his access road to deliver to his neighbours who have tenancies of property near his home at Castle Muir in Rogart.

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist heard a letter from one elderly neighbour who still feels "cut off from the outside world" by the actions of Moss.

He claimed they were speeding and causing damage to the access road.

Depute fiscal Karen Smith told the court on one occasion Moss stood in front of a postal van brandishing a spanner at its driver.

She said the neighbours had mail boxes on his access road and he had been shouting and swearing at the postmen as they tried to make their deliveries on separate occasions.

Moss has spent time in custody for failing to appear at an earlier calling of the case.

He admitted between January 1 and July 15, 2012 at Castle Muir, Rogart behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards a postman by shouting and swearing at him.

He further admitted that on May 14, 2012 he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards another postman and attempted to block his vehicle, run towards him brandishing a spanner, push him and struggle with him.

He also admitted failing to appear for a court hearing at Dornoch on February 18 last year.

The fiscal said on May 14 Moss stood in front of the postal van blocking its path.

He then brandished the spanner at the postman who got back into his van and reported the matter to his superiors.

Mrs Smith said Moss was co-operative when interviewed by police.

"He gave an account of what he perceived to be the problem and that was that he didn’t think the postmen had a right to use his access road," she said.

The fiscal said he told the police "I can do what I like on private property".

But the fiscal said Royal Mail had a right to use the road to make deliveries.

Defence solicitor Patrick O’Dea said on April 1 Moss was remanded in custody for failing to appear at callings of the case.

He was released on April 7 and Mr O’Dea said it was the first time he had experienced being in jail.

Mr O’Dea said it was Moss’s position that the vans were driving at speed on the access road and causing damage to it.

The solicitor said he had advised Moss that even although he owns the road he has to give access to tenants.

Mr O’Dea said the background reports before the court indicated Moss was unable to do unpaid work for the community and he was not in a position to pay a fine.

He added that he was ‘able to resolve the matter and there had been no problems for an extended period’.

He said Moss apologises to all parties concerned.

However, the fiscal said she felt bound to bring to the court’s attention a letter from a 69-year-old neighbour who said the problems were ongoing, stating Moss’s threatening and abusive behaviour ‘has effectively removed access between me and the outside world."

Sheriff Gilchrist said he would defer sentence until June 10 for a further background report.

"I would expect him (Moss) to be more cooperative for the production of that report," said the Sheriff.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Rogart crofter fined £600

http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Ro ... 062014.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A SUTHERLAND crofter has been fined £600 today after admitting acting in a threatening manner towards postmen trying to deliver mail to one of his neighbours.

Tain Sheriff Court heard last month how 75-year-old David Moss did not believe Royal Mail postmen had the right to use his private access road to make the delivery to a neighbour’s mailbox near his Castle Muir home in Rogart.

He also claimed they were speeding and causing damage to the road.

Depute fiscal Karen Smith told the court on May 12 that on one occasion Moss stood in the path of a postal van and waved a spanner at the driver.

Moss, who spent time in custody for failing to appear at a previous court hearing, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards a postman between January 1 and July 15, 2012, by shouting and swearing at him.

He also admitted that on May 14, 2012, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards another postman and attempted to block his vehicle, running towards him brandishing a spanner, pushing him and struggling with him.

He also admitted failing to appear for a court hearing at Dornoch on February 18 last year.

Mrs Smith referred the court to a letter from a 69-year-old neighbour who said Moss’s actions had “effectively removed access between me and the outside world.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist had deferred sentence until today for a background report.

He fined Moss £300 on both of the public disorder offences and admonished him for failing to appear on February 18.

[k979aaa]

What a total spanner he is.