Woman assaults taxi driver in Inverness after row over fare
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A 40-year-old woman abused a taxi driver from the Middle East, a Polish national and a black woman, telling her that she was a racist before swinging a punch and spitting at her victim.
The offences took place between February 2022 and July 2023 after Kimberley Fraser had left voicemails for a former boyfriend which contained a tirade of abuse and threats to him and his new partner.
Fraser, from Inverness, appeared from remand by video link at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit a total of eight charges on one indictment, which originally contained 24 accusations.
They were a contravention of the Communications Act; three of assault, two of hindering police, one of threatening behaviour and another of racist conduct.
Sentence was deferred until November 13 by Sheriff Gary Aitken for a background report and Fraser was again remanded in custody.
The court heard that Fraser was intoxicated when she phoned her ex about 5.20pm on Sunday, February 6, 2022 and left a voicemail.
She threatened to mutilate the genitals of both him and his partner.
Fraser phoned again using another number on February 19 leaving abusive messages and saying "I'm going to kill you" and other expletive-ridden comments including "I will find, I will kill you and I will ruin you every way possible".
Five days before the second call, Fraser, two men, a woman and a baby were picked up by the cabbie who was asked to take them all to Lochardil Road in Inverness.
Fiscal Emily Hood told the court: "On arrival, a disagreement ensued with the accused over the fare. She was trying to get the pushchair out of the boot."
Ms Hood said the taxi driver warned her he would call the police and she tried to punch him in the face but he blocked it.
"She has then kicked him to the leg and pushed him against the taxi. He tried to get her off him but she continued to kick him until he managed to get around to the driver's door and sit on the seat. The matter was reported to the police," the fiscal added.
The sheriff then heard of an incident at Burnett Road Police Station on October 20, 2022 after Fraser had been taken there on another matter.
She became abusive towards officers, shouting and swearing incoherently, racially abusing one of the custody suite officers and spitting at police and staff.
Ms Hood narrated another offence at the Superdry store in Eastgate Shopping Centre on January 23, 2023 after Fraser was arrested on another matter.
Ms Hood: "She reared up, resisting arrest and putting the officers off balance. She was controlled to the ground but continued kicking out with her legs and trying to spit at officers.
"In the police van she was able to bite a police officer on the left forearm, penetrating the skin.
"She is known as an intravenous drug user and follow up blood testing had to be carried out."
On July 16 this year, Fraser was in MacCallum's bar in Union Street, Inverness when she joined two people uninvited before saying to one of them: "She's black."
Ms Hood went on: "She said she didn't like black people and said she was a racist. The pair left but Fraser followed and punched the woman on the face and spat at her."
The court heard that Fraser kicked out at police officers who had been called and in Burnett Road Police Station, she tried to spit at one.
