A heated doorstep debate during the referendum campaign turned ugly and Dunfermline Labour MP Thomas Docherty told a Yes supporter he should go on a diet, a court has heard.
“Irate” Adam Cairns, who had called shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons Mr Docherty “a waste of space”, then pursued the MP down the street before police were called.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Cairns, 27, of Chapel Place, High Valleyfield, admitted that on August 17 at Leslie Road and Woodside Avenue, Rosyth, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and uttering offensive remarks.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: “Over the period of the referendum campaign Mr Docherty had been canvassing as part of the No campaign.
“On August 17 Mr Docherty and his team were in the Rosyth area. At about 1.30pm they became aware of the accused standing outside one of the houses.
“Mr Docherty approached him and engaged in a conversation. It became clear to Mr Docherty that the accused was perhaps for the Yes campaign.”
There was an “exchange of views” and Cairns told the MP “You’re a waste of space,” Mr Kapadia told the court.
He added: “Mr Docherty unfortunately, and he regretted it, said: ‘I’m a waste of space? You’re the one needing to go on a diet’.
“The accused became irate and demanded an apology. Mr Docherty then walked away to canvass other houses.
“The accused followed him and then started shouting at him. He told Mr Docherty ‘Nobody says that to me’ and told him he would be sorry as a result of the confrontation.
“The matter ended when Mr Docherty called the police as he’d become concerned about how the matter was now proceeding.
“He walked away from the situation and police officers attended.”
Defence solicitor Lucy Durie said her client accepted he became “upset and angry” after the MP’s comment.
She said: “He was a Yes voter but not part of a campaign. Mr Cairns had a Yes sticker on his car.
“He had said he didn’t think that he (Mr Docherty) had done anything for him and the area.
“He is regretful of the situation,” said Ms Durie, who added that her client had three young children and was visiting his mother’s home when the incident occurred.
Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “During the referendum campaign it is well known that emotions ran high and people on both sides said things that in the cold light of day they shouldn’t have. That is certainly the case here.”
He granted an absolute discharge.
Afterwards Cairns, a self-employed service engineer said: “I was wearing a Yes sticker and he approached me. I don’t think it would have come to court if an MP wasn’t involved.
“I’m just glad it’s over with and I can get back to work.”
Mr Docherty said: “Mr Cairns was completely out of order that day and that’s why I said what I did. In life you can’t act the way he did and not expect anything to be said back in response.
“He then lost the plot, had to be held back and then started following us down the street in his car. That’s when we called the police.”