Alloa woman fired air rifle at neighbour's window

In other incidents Sharon Johnston poured petrol up to a door and also brandished a golf club when making threats, all when she was drunk.

However, the impact on her children of a jail sentence meant Sharon Johnston avoided prison.

Johnston, 38, of Achray Court, appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 7, having admitted three offences.

On July 24 last year, at Achray Court, she recklessly repeatedly discharged an air rifle at a window, exposing the occupants of the house to the risk of injury.

On December 28 last year, at North Street, Clackmannan, she attended at a house uninvited, acted aggressively, shouted, made a challenge to fight and poured petrol on the ground there.

On March 5, at Anchray Court, she shouted, swore, made threats of violence and brandished a golf club.

Depute fiscal Susannah Hutchison narrated Johnston’s catalogue of offending.

On one occasion, she repeatedly fired an air rifle at the bedroom window of a neighbour’s home at 1am.

In another incident she poured petrol on the ground up to the door of a house, shouting abuse and looking for a fight.

In another neighbour dispute she brandished a golf club as she shouted and swore.

Defence solicitor Mary-Ellen Scobbie told the court Johnston has three children.

She said her client was intoxicated at the time of all the offences and had since dissociated herself from people who she feels were a bad influence on her.

“She understands she has an anger management issue and can fly off the handle,” added the solicitor.

Sheriff Neil Bowie told Johnston the impact on her youngsters of her being jailed was the primary factor in him not imposing a prison sentence.

He added it was Johnston’s “totally reckless” conduct that had put the children in such a position.

Instead, the sheriff imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work and two years of supervision.

He also imposed a restriction of liberty order for six months.