Last updated 16:07, Wednesday, 08 October 2008

A 50-YEAR-old man who spat and swore at his neighbours has been ordered to keep the peace.

Anthony Joseph John Vella-Brincat, of Pica Cottages, had denied a public order offence against Gary Humphries and Jade Ashcroft.

However, District Judge Gerald Chalk found him guilty and fined him £175 with £200 costs and £15 victim surcharge. The judge also ordered him to be bound over in the sum of £300 for 12 months.

Whitehaven Magistrates Court heard that last May Vella-Brincat had leaned out of his window spitting and shouting abuse at the couple who were waving off relatives.

Mr Humphries told the court that he was holding his eight-month-old son in his arms when the defendant had began clearing his throat and spitting at their feet.

He said he then ushered his wife back into their home where they continued to hear Vella-Brincat shouting abuse and banging on the wall. Mr Humphries said his wife was “in floods of tears’’.

Jade Ashcroft said she had been shaken by the incident and had “looked at Gary in horror’’ when the defendant began shouting abuse.

The court heard how the neighbours had a strained relationship.

Vella-Brincat admitted swearing at the couple but denied spitting. He said he was angry at the couple because they were smug and staring at him.

He accepted his language was abusive but said he disliked the couple.