An irate motorist took the law into his own hands when a drink-driver twice ran into the back of his car.
The drunk man then spat at road rage driver Gareth Johnstone who responded by punching him in the face, knocking two teeth out.
Johnstone was not only concerned about the damage to his car but also about his dog which was in the boot when the vehicle was struck twice from behind in Dunfermline town centre.
Johnstone, 28, of Calder Grove, Edinburgh, admitted assaulting Christian Apetroae on February 28 at Carnegie Drive by repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the incident took place at around 3am at the traffic lights next to the Velocity nightclub.
He said: “This incident can be described as road rage. The accused stopped at the traffic lights and the complainer braked too late and hit the back of the accused’s car.
“It would appear he got out of his car and approached the complainer who rolled his window down and asked if he was okay.”
As Johnstone walked away, he was spat on by the other driver. He then turned and punched him twice before returning to his car.
The car behind then hit Johnstone’s vehicle for a second time and he got back out and punched the driver again.
Mr Kapadia said the other driver had failed a breath test and was being prosecuted.
Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said: “Mr Johnstone and the complainer are not known to each other. A collision occurred where Mr Johnstone’s vehicle was hit from behind.”
Ms Joshi said her client could see the other driver was under the influence and he was then spat at. Her client reacted by punching him twice.
“Having then entered his vehicle he was struck again and was concerned particularly because his dog was in the boot of the vehicle.”
Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed a community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work.
