Baseball bat brandished after neighbour's dog killed goat

A sheriff heard about Christian Andrews' angry reaction after his neighbour's dog killed one of his goats.

He armed himself with a baseball bat and paid Christopher Page – the person he held responsible – a visit.

Andrews (43) admitted a charge of assault and was fined £600 at Wick Sheriff Court last week.

Fiscal David Barclay said that occupants of Mr Page's home at Bronx Cottage, Scarfskerry, observed the accused standing outside the garden on September 17, 2021.

The fiscal continued: "Andrews appeared to be trying to attract Mr Page's attention. Mr Page went out to investigate, The accused referred to the loss of his goat, brandished the bat and pushed Mr Page before leaving the scene."

Mr Barclay explained that Mr Page had accepted responsibility for the loss of the goat, earlier the same day, and the incident was the subject of a court case and deferred sentence.

Solicitor George Mathers told Sheriff Ian Anderson that Andrews was angry at what had happened to his goat and during a verbal confrontation with Mr Page had brandished the bat and had pushed him.

"The accused's parents, who were visiting him at the time, were upset over the loss of the goat and the baseball bat incident."

Mr Mathers stressed: "There was never any intention on the accused's part to hit anyone with the bat."