Burntisland man Wayne Ross made a death threat to a dog owner whose pet a friend’s runaway canine had attacked.
Ross said “I’m going to f***ing kill you” after he caught up with the dog on Kirkcaldy’s High Street as it grabbed the complainer’s pet by the neck.
The other man had tried to free his dog as his screaming wife looked on.
Ross said he thought his victim – identified in court only as a Mr Donaldson – had kicked the dog during the struggle.
Dog struggle
Fiscal depute Andrew Brown told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “At 4.10pm Mr and Mrs Donaldson were on the High Street in Kirkcaldy, heading towards the town centre while walking their dog.
“They stopped at the bank on the corner of Kirk Wynd.
“At this point the accused was observed following a dog, which was running towards Mr and Mrs Donaldson and their dog.
“The accused’s dog lunged towards their dog and grabbed hold of its neck.
“Mr Donaldson tried to release the dog’s grip but was unable to.
“Mrs Donaldson was very upset and screaming,
“Mr Donaldson tried to get the dog to let go by nudging it with his foot but that was unsuccessful.
“The accused then appeared with another male and managed to get the dog to let go and put it on a lead.
“The accused appeared annoyed with Mr and Mrs Donaldson and started shouting and swearing at them.
“The accused said to Mr Donaldson ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you’.”
At this point the couple called the police.
More than a ‘nudge’
Solicitor Bob Inch, defending, said the 42-year-old believed the “nudge” to be more forceful.
He said: “The dog does not belong to Mr Ross but he was in the company of its owner.
“He was in pursuit of the dog as it had got loose.
“The owner of the other dog quite rightly made an attempt to save his dog.
“It would appear Mr Ross and the owner took offence at the manner in which he did.
“The narrative said that he nudged it with his foot – it was perhaps more than a nudge.
“It wasn’t his issue to resolve and matters escalated.”
Ross, of Nicol Drive, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on High Street, Kirkcaldy on September 23 2021.
He was fined £400 but as he is currently serving a prison sentence for another matter and is unable to pay, the court converted this to 14 days imprisonment.
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