After nearly two years of repeated abuse caught on a home camera, a Forth couple say they finally feel safe again after their neighbour was evicted this week. The case, concluded at Lanark Sheriff Court on 23 February 2026, follows a long-running campaign of harassment that the family say left them living in fear.
What unfolded on the street
Chris and Amy Masterson reported sustained verbal attacks and threats from neighbour Peter Ferguson after he moved to their street in 2024. Footage from the couple’s doorbell camera recorded episodes of swearing and intimidation aimed at Amy, and the family say the behaviour escalated to threats against their property.
According to the Mastersons, incidents included a threat to petrol-bomb their car and a late-night doorbell visit followed minutes later by their car windscreen being smashed. The council secured an anti-social behaviour order, which prosecutors say was breached on multiple occasions.
- Duration: Almost two years of harassment, beginning in 2024
- Legal steps: Council applied for an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) and pursued eviction
- Court outcome: Eviction proceedings concluded at Lanark Sheriff Court on 23 February 2026
- Aftermath: Tenancy was recovered by South Lanarkshire Council on an agreed date; the ASBO remains in place
Effect on the family
Chris Masterson, 46, who has reduced mobility after a stroke, told the BBC the situation made daily life extremely difficult: he and his wife routinely barricaded their front door and avoided sitting out in their own garden because of the abuse.
“When he was on the street we couldn’t sit outside without getting abused,” Chris said, describing the relief the eviction has brought. The couple also said the repeated court appearances — almost 20 hearings over two years — took a significant toll on their mental wellbeing.
Council statement and legal detail
South Lanarkshire Council confirmed the eviction and supplied a brief statement: the eviction proceedings were completed at Lanark Sheriff Court on 23 February 2026 and the tenancy was subsequently recovered by the council on an agreed date. The authority added that an anti-social behaviour order relating to the former tenant remains active.
The council’s intervention, followed by court action, closed the legal loop that had been open since the Mastersons first complained. Police involvement and repeated breaches of the injunction were central to the decision to remove the tenant from the property.
Why the case matters now
This ruling underscores how local authorities and courts can use housing and civil enforcement tools to protect neighbours from prolonged harassment. For residents, it illustrates two practical points: the value of recorded evidence such as a doorbell camera, and the potential for eviction as a remedy when anti-social behaviour persists despite orders.
At the same time, the Mastersons’ experience highlights the personal cost of long legal battles — frequent court dates, ongoing fear, and strain on family life. For communities and policymakers, cases like this prompt questions about early intervention, support for victims, and the resources councils need to enforce protections.
For now the Mastersons say they are relieved and able to rebuild a sense of normality at home. The council’s confirmation that the tenancy has been recovered marks the legal end of a dispute that the family says upended their daily life.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
