A man who seriously upset his female neighbour by shouting abuse and lighting fires in his garden has had a restraining order imposed on him.

Stewart McKean, 47, of Farfield Road, Almondbury, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour on April 8.

Rory Byrne, prosecuting at Kirklees Magistrates Court, said: “The defendant was in his garden and from 4pm to 8pm he was shouting repeatedly. His neighbour Samantha Matthews witnessed what happened.”

He said: “This is my house, this is how I live. I will shoot you all.’ An Environmental Health officer attended. He accepts that he is a career criminal.

“There is an ongoing issue between Samantha Matthews and the defendant.

“He repeatedly starts fires and starts shouting which causes her distress. He lights fires very close to her fence and there is the possibility of them spreading to adjoining properties.”

In mitigation, Marnat Ali said: “Mr McKean has ongoing psychological difficulties. He was a prisoner in his own home due to his difficulties. He has a personality disorder.

“When his emotions become too much for him, however, he comes out of his house and vents his frustrations. Medication doesn’t help, it simply makes him go haywire.

“When things get too much for him he gets out of the house and lets off steam, it’s the only thing that works effectively. For 10 years he has been stuck in his house.

"He says what’s happened is the best thing that has happened to him. He is due to start full-time, paid employment on July 28.

“He tells me that he is on top of the world, he was living in a bubble.

“He is now able to go on public transport, (he had a phobia about using it previously). He has managed to turn his life around. He says he is a career criminal but he is not.

“He has had a few brushes with the law. He doesn’t light fires anymore. He has a great deal of meaning in his life now.”

Chairman of the bench Barry Lockwood imposed an open-ended restraining order preventing the defendant contacting Ms Matthews.

He said he would have to come to court to apply for it to be removed.

He also imposed a fine of £90 along with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge payable at £20 per month.

The defendant said: “I will appeal, (the restraining order) tomorrow.”