The skipper of a fishing boat issued a "terrifying" death threat to an MSP during his constituency surgery, telling him "remember what happened to Jo Cox."

William Curtis attended Stewart Stevenson MSP's surgery in Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire in August 2016.

Curtis demanded the MSP intervene in a dispute he was having with Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil and issued Mr Stevenson with an ultimatum.

The skipper's remark came just two months after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered near her own constituency surgery.

At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Curtis was fined £2600 after being found guilty of making the death threat.

During the surgery, Curtis said he was involved in a dispute with Mr MacNeil and a fishing company.

He said he was contemplating making a citizen's arrest and demanded Mr Stevenson, the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, intervene on his behalf.

Curtis told the MSP he had 14 days to act and added: "Remember what happened to Jo Cox."

Sentencing, Sheriff Robert Dickson said: "This was a reference to a Labour MP who four weeks before had been murdered while working close to her constituency office.

"Mr Stevenson was very concerned and frightened by your remark which he considered was directed against him and Mr McNeill.

"It was a threat that he and Mr McNeill could be physically attacked if your time limit was not complied with."

He continued: "This was not an outburst made in temper.

"It was a cold, calculated threat made in a calm tone and was all the more terrifying because of this.

"It was made deliberately in order to cause fear and alarm and it did so.

"It was particularly effective because the tragic death of Jo Cox was at that time so fresh in everybody's memory."

The sheriff described Curtis' actions as "vile and evil" and said such behaviour would never be acceptable.