A MAN who held the flame of a lighter to his neighbour’s door has been ordered to carry out unpaid work within the community.

Mustapha Bakar appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to the offence on January 25 last year.

The 34-year-old held the gas lighter to the spy hole of a door on Goyle Avenue, Drumchapel.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “Two witnesses were within their home address. At this time, they saw the accused outside the common close.

“He left and they did not see the accused again. Later in the day, one of the witnesses had been lying in bed at around 3.30pm. He left his bed and walked into the hallway and noticed something wrong with a camera that was attached to the peep hole.

“The accused had approached the door and held a lit lighter against the peep hole. This was reported to police and the footage was shown to the police. Thereafter the accused was arrested and charged and made no reply.”

Despite the cost of damage being £3.90, Bakar was told the crime he committed could have had very serious consequences.

Glasgow Times:

Sheriff Patricia Pryce said: “He held a lit lighter to the spyhole; this is a very serious matter.

“Things didn’t rise but it could have done. This is poor decision making. I understand you were tired, and you had been working and had a sick child, but this is no way to resolve issues with your neighbour.

“As a direct alternative to custody, I will place you on a community payback order.”

Bakar will have to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 160 due to his guilty plea.

He will have 12 months to complete the hours.