An ex-soldier who assaulted a female dog walker after a fall-out over their pets has been ordered to pay his victim compensation.
Siberian husky owner Austin Keggie appeared for sentence at Forfar Sheriff Court after the incident at the town’s country park in which the accused and springer spaniel owner Janice Duncan each accused the other of allowing their pets to attack.
Keggie, 51, of Archies Park, Forfar, was previously found guilty by Sheriff Gregor Murray after a trial which heard the accused had also threatened that he could snap the neck of a witness “with two fingers” because of his military training.
He ordered Keggie to pay Mrs Duncan £250 compensation and also fined him £200.
The sheriff added: “You may not be treated so leniently if there’s any repeat in the future.”
The accused told the court he had spent 14 years in the forces but was now suffering from combat stress.
The trial heard evidence that Mrs Duncan had been talking to witness Andrew Campbell near Lochside caravan park when Keggie approached with his dog.
The accused’s dog then attacked a collie which Mr Campbell was looking after, but following a “shoving match” at the popular beauty spot Keggie walked off.
He then met Mrs Duncan shortly after at Archies Park and the argument sparked up again, with shoves being exchanged and Keggie shouting and swearing at her.
Keggie maintained during the trial that his own dog had been the subject of an attack by Mrs Duncan’s dogs.
He told the trial: “I put my hand down and I felt a sharp pain the black spaniel had bit my hand.”
Keggie’s solicitor Bob Bruce produced a doctor’s letter to the trial confirming a doctor’s visit for puncture marks in the wake of the April incident.
Sentencing Keggie, Sheriff Murray said: “I found you guilty at the trial for two offences which you could easily have avoided committing.”