Road rage incident lands man in court in Inverness for threatening behaviour and careless driving
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A man lashed out after stalling his girlfriend's car in Inverness city centre.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard Stuart Johnstone (23) stalled his girlfriend’s car and was trying to get it going as traffic backed up behind him.
Depute fiscal Niall Macdonald said the incident began in Church Street about 2pm on April 9 last year. He said the traffic flow was interrupted and the driver behind Johnstone, Evan MacRae, tooted his horn.
When Johnstone got going and was stopped at traffic lights he got out and shouted obscenities at the driver behind who was also stopped in the queue at the lights.
He was swearing at the driver and the fiscal said a pub bouncer came over and tried to calm Johnstone down.
In Queensgate, Johnstone pulled out without indicating, causing another vehicle to brake, and his driving was erratic.
Mr Macdonald said Johnstone then followed Mr MacRae who phoned the police and drove to Burnett Road police station with Johnstone following, where the accused shouted and swore at Mr MacRae.
Johnstone, of Seaforth Place, Maryburgh, admitted acting aggressively and making obscene gestures. He also admitted following Mr MacRae, driving carelessly in an erratic and aggressive manner, and pulling out when it was unsafe to do so causing drivers to take evasive action.
Solicitor John MacColl said Johnstone didn’t dispute what had been said. “He felt aggrieved because he had stalled rather than making a deliberate attempt to block traffic.”
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov sentenced Johnstone to 90 hours’ unpaid work and put five points on his licence.
