A PENSIONER who made pig noises towards a half-naked police officer during a late-night neighbourhood dispute has been fined.

James Cassidy made the derogatory sound to Police Scotland’s Chief Inspector Mark Patterson after he had been caught scratching a car belonging to the senior officer’s partner.

Cassidy, of Temple Mains Steadings, Innerwick, had become involved in the row with neighbours Mr Patterson and Norma Conroy, which resulted in him targeting Ms Conroy’s motor.

The OAP sneaked out in the dark one night last March to vandalise Ms Conroy’s vehicle, after he claimed his own car had been scratched previously.

But after being caught red-handed by the high-ranking police officer and his partner, Cassidy then made the insulting pig grunt in reference to the chief inspector’s occupation.

Cassidy denied the charge throughout Tuesday’s trial date at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but was eventually found guilty of the car attack and to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The 67-year-old retired accounts manager was fined £550 and ordered to pay Ms Conroy £500 in compensation for the damage he caused.

Last month, Chief Inspector Patterson and Ms Conroy told the court that they had encountered Cassidy in the communal car park near their home at about 10pm on March 15 last year.

Ms Conroy said that she had witnessed Cassidy slicing into her car’s bodywork after she had shone a torch from her phone onto him as he crouched between the parked motors.

The pair also said that, following the subsequent exchange between them, Cassidy stared menacingly at them through their window before making the pig utterance as he walked past their home.

But giving evidence on the second day of the trial, Cassidy told the court he was only checking the vehicles were undamaged after previous incidents of car vandalism had taken place in the tiny village.

Cassidy said the Irish police officer – who has 17 years’ experience with Police Scotland - had approached him wearing just his underwear and had blocked him from making his way home.

He said: “I put the papers in the bin and walked down to the car park to check my cars. I checked all the cars and no one else was there.

“I then heard Irish voices from the top of the car park. The voices sounded panicky and there was shouting – it was towards me.

“He was just wearing his underpants. I tried to walk past but he blocked my way and said ‘now I know who scratched my car you old Scottish bastard’.”

Cassidy then added that he had watched the couple go back inside their home before he went back out to the car park to recheck on his two vehicles.

It was around this point that the pensioner made the grunting noises and stared menacingly at the couple.

Fiscal depute Mark Keene told the court: “We have heard evidence from Mr Patterson and Ms Conroy, who saw the accused scratch Ms Conroy’s car and make grunting noise towards Mr Patterson.

“He also stared at them for about 30 seconds, placing them in state of fear and alarm.”

Defending solicitor Simon Collins said that both the chief inspector and his partner’s evidence was “not credible”, as both had differing version of events.

Mr Collins said: “Ms Conroy’s evidence was not satisfactory and I would go as far as that she is not telling the truth.”

But Sheriff Katherine Mackie took the view that Cassidy had committed the offences and found him guilty of two charges.

Sheriff Mackie ordered Cassidy to pay a fine of £550 and pay Ms Conroy £500 in compensation for the vandalism charge.

Cassidy could be seen mouthing “unbelievable” and shook his head in disgust at the outcome as he left the dock.