A neighbour who told a couple he ‘knew people who would kill people’ has been found guilty of provoking behaviour following a summary trial.

Kevin Mark Edwards, 58, of Ballajora Hill, Ramsey, also threatened that ‘he had no problem hacking up people like you’.

Mr Edwards claimed the man and his wife were involved in a wider campaign of harassment during which, he alleged, people had trespassed on his property.

On one occasion, he claimed, he had been trapped inside his home while people shone lights and lasers.

But the couple were adamant they had never been on his property and did not even know where he lived.

Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood found the couple’s evidence to be ‘honest and credible’. In contrast, she described Mr Edwards’ account as ‘somewhat far-fetched and fanciful with elements of paranoia’.

The court heard that on January 13 this year, the witness had returned home after collecting his daughter from school when he spotted the defendant standing at the foot of his driveway, staring at him.

He asked his daughter to remain in the car while he approached the man to ask whether he had a problem.

The witness said he did not know the defendant or where he lived but believed him to be a neighbour.

He said the man had accused him of ‘sneaking around’ and claimed he ‘knew what they were up to’.

The witness said he had no idea what the defendant meant. He felt genuinely concerned when the man told him he had ‘no problem hacking up people like you’.

His wife joined him during the encounter, and Mr Edwards referred to ‘others being in on it, including police and local advocates’.

The defendant also mentioned an armed response at his property and having spent time in police custody.

He told the couple he ‘knew people who would kill people’.

The wife told the court she had been left feeling very uncomfortable. The man had appeared agitated, and she had no idea whether he was capable of carrying out his threats.

Giving evidence, the defendant insisted his comment about hacking referred to cutting back foliage and bushes at his property to prevent people hiding in them.

He alleged trespassers had been captured on CCTV, but claimed someone had tampered with his security cameras and the footage had been obliterated.

Finding Mr Edwards guilty, Ms Braidwood said his words amounted to provoking language or behaviour which tended towards a breach of the peace.

‘I do not accept they [the couple] had been involved in a campaign of harassment,’ she said.

She adjourned sentencing until November 21 to allow an updated social inquiry report to be prepared.

The defendant will also be sentenced for two offences of breaching a Domestic Abuse Prevention Order. He admitted one offence and was found guilty of the second following a summary trial in March this year.

Mr Edwards was granted bail until sentencing.