BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a Selkirk man who was involved in a threatening confrontation with two women.

Murray Ballantyne, of Elm Row, pleaded guilty to making threatening comments and acting in an aggressive manner towards the two women in High Street, Selkirk, on September 10.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that the two women were confronted by Ballantyne who told them that “those who lived in Galashiels Road don’t know what’s coming to them”.

One of the women asked if that was a threat and Ballantyne began shouting and made abusive comments towards the women.

They ran into the Spar shop to seek assistance.

Ballantyne claimed he was in the IRA and said that he would make sure the women would have to leave the town.

Ms Hamilton said: “When the women drove off to the police station the accused called them another abusive name and told them, ‘Make sure you are not here in the morning’.

Ballantye also pleaded guilty to separate charges of stealing a metal pole from a builders and joiners yard in Selkirk on April 29 and damaging a CCTV camera.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he could have dealt with the matter if it was not for the “odd characteristics” contained in the charge involving the two women.

Sentence was deferred for reports until February 13.