Castletown woman ‘terrified’ on doorstep

A Castletown woman told a court that she was “terrified” after a local man paid her an unwelcome visit.

She said that Gordon Gunn was “aggressive” and she felt “scared” and thought he was going to hit her.

The incident occurred at the rear door of a house in Main Street, Castletown, on August 1.

Gunn, a 46-year-old butcher, denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner but was found guilty after a trial at Wick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Sheriff Neil Wilson was told that there had been history between the accused and the woman and her husband.

The woman said: “Gunn started shouting and saying he wanted to speak to my husband and wanted him to come out of the house. He told me – ‘Your time has come’.”

Asked what she thought he meant by that, she replied: “I think it was a moment in which he had lost control.”

Her husband said that Gunn was gesturing with his hand for him to come out and shouted: “Get to f**k out here.”

Asked why he didn’t go outside, he replied: “I knew that if I had stepped out, there would be an alteration and I have no doubt he would have assaulted me.”

The man, who phoned the police, added that Gunn ignored requests to leave and continued to be aggressive.

Giving evidence, Gunn, of Castlehill Place, Castletown, rejected their side of the story. He alleged that the couple had been “harassing” his brother and had called on them to tell them to stop doing so.

Sheriff Wilson commended the couple for their evidence which, he said, had been “entirely credible and reliable”.

The sheriff noted Gunn’s age and lack of previous offending and told him: “I trust you have learned your lesson. You will be fined £500.”