AN ELECTRICIAN from Innerleithen has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to a customer after a bizarre bust-up over an unpaid bill.

Former police officer Gill Durrington, 54, claimed sparkie Nick Silk booted her West Highland terrier Duncan up in the air causing the dog to run off and threw an ornamental stone at her before assaulting her.

Thirty five year old Silk denied any of that happened and alleged Mrs Durrington threw the stone at his van causing dents to the bonnet.

He said he only seized her by the body in self-defence to prevent her from throwing another stone at his van.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that Silk turned up at home in Buccleuch Street, Innerleithen, on April 24, to ask why a £1500 for work to her house had not been paid.

Mrs Durrington said she would not be paying the bill as she had to get other tradesmen in to finish the work and he would need to speak to her estranged husband.

Silk said he would take the matter to a small claims court to be resolved.

That is when the accounts given by the pair at a trial last week vastly differed.

In a statement to police Mrs Durrington said: "Nick kicked him (Duncan the West Highland Terrier) so fiercely he was catapulted down the grass - it was horrible."

And in her evidence at the trial she said: "I just heard the sound of a thud and the dog gave a loud yelp. I saw the dog flying across the front grass."

She then said  she picked up an ornamental stone to protect herself and Silk lunged at her placing both hands round her neck and pushed her over.

Mrs Durrington said Silk then threw a stone which she was worried would hit her other West Highland terrier Charley who had been barking at him and it missed her by a couple of feet.

She added:"He was shouting and swearing.  He said you are a f******g hoor.  He then drove off in his van.  I noted the registration and telephoned the police."

Mrs Durrington told the court she called her neighbour Susan McAusland round who took photos of red marks on her shoulders and neck.

Mrs McAusland's husband retried Duncan from a stranger's house near a caravan park about half a mile away.

Silk's lawyer Ed Hulme described Mrs Durrington's evidence as "exaggerated" and doubted her credibility and reliability in this case.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said there was no corroboration for kicking the dog, throwing the stone and shouting and swearing and found Silk not guilty of charge one.

But he found the electrician guilty of assaulting Mrs Durrington by seizing her by the body and placing his hands around her neck to her injury.

Silk was fined £300 and ordered to pay Mrs Durrington £100 compensation.