POLICE are investigating a formal complaint against an island's former special constable following a row with her neighbour over noise from a power tool.
An allegation has been made against Yasmin Milburn, who became Colonsay's only police officer in June. However, she resigned after just two months.
Her neighbour, David Guest, 65, alleges she threatened to arrest him unless he stopped using an angle grinder. Mr Guest claims Ms Milburn went on to his property and threatened to charge him under noise pollution laws during the incident on August 2.
Ms Milburn hit the headlines in June when it emerged she was investigating the first serious crime on the island for years - the slashing of tyres on her partner's car.
Ms Milburn, who runs a business on the island, confirmed last week she had stepped down as a special constable but declined to comment further.
However, Police Scotland confirmed officers are examining a formal complaint into Ms Milburn.
Mr Guest, a retired chartered engineer, said in a written statement to police: "I had been working for 10 minutes in the garden. I had four or five blasts on an angle grinder to cut corners of stones for our garden.
"I suddenly became aware of her marching on to my property towards me. She wasn't in her uniform.
"She said to me, 'I've had a couple of calls complaining about the noise from a saw'. She then said that if I didn't stop she would charge me under section 51 of the noise pollution act. I was a bit suspicious so I had a look online and no such act exists."
Mr Guest said he began working with his angle grinder the next day and Ms Milburn appeared in uniform.
He said in his statement: "She said ,'David, we've got to get this sorted. I've had a couple of calls the other night and another tonight, so that's three complaints now.'
"She was attempting to be intimidating, saying these things whilst standing quite close to me. She said, 'We've got to get this sorted or it will be worse you for in the long run.'"
Mr Guest said yesterday: "In my opinion she exceeded her authority. Special constables should be called upon when needed. They are not supposed to do anything of their own volition."
Another islander, who asked not to be named, said Ms Milburn had ruffled feathers by acting on her initiative.
"She would stand at the ferry and look at every car to see if people were wearing their seatbelts, and would go to local car parks and check the tax discs," said the islander.
Ms Milburn would only say: "I resigned because it's having a major impact on my life."
She had been investigating an attack on her partner's car. Trevor Crowe, 59, was involved in a row with drinkers at a local hotel, after which all four tyres on his Land Rover were slashed.
It was the first serious crime on the island in years and happened within weeks of Ms Milburn taking up her post.
A police spokeswoman said: ""We have received a complaint, which we are looking into. It would be inappropriate to comment further.
"Inquiries are continuing into the tyre slashing."
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