A LANDLORD who made threatening remarks and a racially-aggravated comment to one of his tenants has been admonished at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Sixty-seven-year-old farmer Robert Nosworthy pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the rural property near Ashkirk on January 12 last year.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, explained how the accused rented out a property to a man and his partner but there had been a number of issues.

She said on the day of the offence Nosworthy knocked on the window of the property at around 8.45pm in an aggressive manner.

He made a racially-aggravated comment towards the man and threatened to break his neck. The police were contacted.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had no previous convictions and the complainer was a tenant.

He described a number of ongoing issues including the complainer reportedly not paying rent and allegedly using the property to run a business which resulted in extra cars being parked in the area.

Mr Hulme said the "straw that broke the camel's back" was when the man was abusive to his son and partner and he went to confront him about that.

He added that the complainer and his partner had now moved out of the property.

Mr Hulme said: "He regrets his actions and would be in a position to pay a fine."

Sheriff Peter Paterson said that taking into the account Nosworthy's age, lack of previous convictions and the provocation involved, he would have considered an absolute discharge.

But as the charge included a racially-aggravated comment he admonished Nosworthy instead, which meant it would count as a criminal conviction but there would be no further penalty.