Inverness Sheriff Court hears how road rage incident at the Inshes junction in led to assault in nearby Tesco Extra car park

A road rage incident at an Inverness roundabout resulted in a man being knocked unconscious in a supermarket car park.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the incident on February 8 began at the Inshes junction when 41-year-old landscaper Andrew Miller, of Moy, exchanged gestures with another motorist.

The court heard that Miller thought there had been a minor collision and both vehicles parked up in the nearby Tesco Extra car park.

Fiscal depute Ruraidh Allison said: “They engaged in a heated argument and Miller punched the other man, who struck his head on his car, fell to the ground and became unconscious for a short time. Police and an ambulance were called, Miller was traced by police and refused to give them his personal information.”

Miller admitted assault to injury under provocation and failing to provide the police with information when requested to do so.

Defence solicitor John MacColl told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: “Although he has a record, it came to an end pretty much in 2007 when he moved to Scotland. In England, he had a volatile youth.

“This roundabout causes confusion for motorists and he was of the opinion that there had been a minor collision.

“They confronted each other, they were nose to nose, and he thought he was going to be the recipient of a punch. It was reactive behaviour and my client struck him.”

Fining Miller £145 and ordering him to be under a year’s social work supervision, Sheriff Macdonald told him: “This was an unpleasant offence and this loss of control is not something you want to continue.”