Driving ban after Inverness motorist's 'temper tantrum'
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A scallop diver had a "temper tantrum" and drove after a woman who swerved to avoid him after he nosed his BMW 6 series out of an Inverness street.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 26-year-old Scott Mackenzie, of Bruce Avenue, Inverness tailgated Tracy Macpherson (53) from Fairfield Road to Dochfour Drive, where he cut a corner in order to overtake her and force her to make an emergency stop.
Mackenzie told the trial he then went to confront the driver, and kicked her car door, not realising it was being opened.
He accepted he was angry and that he had "a temper tantrum".
The door sprung back, injured the woman's head and leg and the kick caused a dent in the panel.
Mackenzie was found guilty by Sheriff Robert Frazer of culpable and reckless conduct, dangerous driving and malicious damage on July 11, last year. He gave evidence agreeing he was 'angry' because he accused her of driving at excessive speed and causing a "near miss" at the Lochalsh Road junction.
He also alleged that Ms Macpherson and her 21-year-old daughter Eilidh made offensive gestures at him out the window before he caught up with them.
Both women also gave evidence and strongly denied making any gestures.
Ms Macpherson said: "I don't do road rage. We had right of way on Fairfield Road and I had to swerve to avoid him."
She also stressed she was travelling at only 20mph while Mackenzie claimed it was over 30mph, maybe 40mph.
Alexander Williamson, a 70-year-old Inverness taxi driver witnessed the incident. He told the trial: "It was quite dramatic as he cut the corner and cut across her car."
Mackenzie was fined a total of £1040 and banned from driving for a year. He will also have to sit the extended driving test of competency.
Defence solicitor Graham Mann said: "He earns £40,000 a year and has to travel to his work, making his way to Mallaig and back again.
"This will cause him difficulties."
