A bad-tempered Hanworth man appeared in court last week charged with a public order offence for swearing inside his own home.
Stephen Sims pleaded not guilty at Feltham Magistrates Court to causing alarm and distress to his neighbour's kids by using threatening words in the bedroom of his maisonette in Winslow Way.
Peter McDermott, who lives next door to Mr Sims called police on the afternoon of Friday, June 13, to complain that the 60-year-old had shouted offensive words at his sons, aged four and eight, who were playing on a tampoline.
He said: "I went down and asked my kids who was shouting because they looked a bit scared and the smallest one was crying. They pointed at Mr Sims who was still standing at his window so I asked him if he was swearing at my kids and he said yes he was. He threatened me he'd crack my skull so I went inside and called the police."
The officer who visited Mr Sims property later that day also gave evidence in the trial last Thursday. PC Andrew Young described Mr Sims as 'uncooperative' when questioned and said he originally refused to open the door or give his second name.
Mr Sims, a full-time carer for his partner, is defending himself during the trial and was not able to call any witnesses or give his own evidence as the trial ran out of time and was postponed until September 25.
He is expected to claim that he was swearing to himself and was not aware the children could hear through the open window. The trial continues.
