A neighbours' dispute over the building of an extension landed a 52-year-old Carlisle man in court after he lost his temper.

Stanley William Wood yelled abuse at the woman who lived next door to him in Borrowdale Road, Carlisle, and then threatened to get his friends to sort out her partner.

At the city's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, Wood entered a guilty plea to an allegation of using threatening behaviour.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, outlined how the row boiled over just after 5pm on January 10.

The woman who was his neighbour had been speaking to a builder about the extension work when the defendant began shouting at her and her partner, said Mrs Ward.

"He was shouting something about his garden shed," said the prosecutor.

When the woman objected, he told her it was nothing to do with her and swore at the woman. It was then that Wood made the threat to get his mates to sort out the woman's partner.

Sean Harkin, for Wood, said:"The background to this is a neighbours' dispute which is ongoing, and has solicitors involved for both parties.

"On this particular day, he returned to his home address and saw his partner involved in an altercation with his neighbour."

A sufferer of type 1 diabetes, Wood had a short time earlier suffered a medical episode and this left him prone to having a short temper.

Mr Harkin continued: "As a result, he lost his temper and he accepts making the comments attributed to him."

A man who had not troubled the courts for 18 years, Wood worked in construction, earning £320 per week, said the lawyer.

The stress of the dispute had led to the break up of his relationship and he had now moved out and was staying with a friend.

District Judge Gerald Chalk fined the defendant £300, and imposed costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £30.