A GUN toting 75-year-old Gourock pensioner pointed a rifle at his terrified neighbour and pulled the trigger.

Ian Peddie woke his victim up before six o'clock in the morning by hammering on his door and pretending to be the police.

There was a 'bang noise' but the gun did not fire, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

However, Peddie's neighbour was left in fear for his life during the 5.50am incident at Tower Drive.

Prosecutor Mark Nicol told the court: "The male and female householders were asleep and were awoken by banging on their front door.

"A male voice stated, 'It's the police'.

"The male householder recognised the voice as being that of his neighbour.

"He went to the front door and on opening the door he saw the accused pointing a rifle towards his chest.

"The accused swore in stating, 'Are yous trying to get me an ASBO?'."

Peddie then immediately pulled the trigger on the gun, the court heard.

Fiscal depute Mr Nicol added: "Due to fearing for his life the householder grabbed the rifle and the accused fell to the ground in an attempt to keep hold of it."

Peddie returned to his home but later shouted verbal abuse at his neighbours, the court heard.

Police arrived at 6.10am on October 23 last year to find the OAP, partially dressed, lying on the ground outside his neighbours' flat.

He told officers that he'd fallen whilst taking the bins out, and on being arrested he stated: "Is this because I had a gun?"

Peddie later shouted: "I'm going to kill them all when I get out of jail, I'm gonnae kill their whole family."

Police recovered what is described as a 'high-powered air rifle with no ammunition'.

After being granted bail Peddie boarded the Gourock-Dunoon passenger ferry with a knife concealed under his kilt.

Police at Dunoon had been alerted to his presence on the boat on June 18 and were waiting for him.

Three days later he caused a beer bottle-smashing disturbance at the Argyll Hotel in Dunoon and 'squared up' to staff, the court was told.

He breached a bail order to stay away from his Gourock neighbours on July 5 by delivering a handwritten note at their door which contained sectarian abuse.

Peddie also had music blaring from his flat while his balcony door was open.

Prosecutor Mr Nicol said: "His neighbour asked him to turn it down.

"The accused shouted and swore continually and made threats.

"His tirade was recorded by his neighbour.

"Police arrived and the accused was instantly hostile.

"He refused to turn the music down and said, 'You do it'."

Peddie has been remanded in custody since July.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: "He is 75 and has no previous convictions.

"A psychiatric report did not refer to any mental illness."

Sheriff Joseph Hughes has deferred sentence on Peddie until November 3 for a background report.

He will be remanded him in custody until then.