A Fife Council roads worker has gone on trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court accused of placing a motorist in a state of fear and alarm and damaging his vehicle.
Anthony Williams, 37, of Sythrum Crescent, Glenrothes, is alleged to have shouted and sworn at NHS nurse John Kenny while also causing damage to his car by kicking and punching it at Beaufort Drive, Glenrothes, on December 13 2013.
Giving evidence Mr Kenny said he had been left “fearing for his safety” following the incident.
He told the court the altercation unfolded after he began beeping his horn at Mr Williams, who was carrying out works on the road at the time because he “couldn’t get by him”.
He said Mr Williams then started banging on his car bonnet, kicking the side of the car more than five times, punching the window and spitting on it.
“It was very surreal. One minute you are going about your daily business then the next thing you have been attacked and your car has been damaged and you fear for your safety.”
Mr William’s defence solicitor Joe Mooney put it to Mr Kenny that there were discrepancies in his recollection of events compared to his police statement which made no mention of Mr Williams banging on the car bonnet and the number of times he had beeped his horn.
He added there was no record of the alleged spitting incident in Mr Kenny’s police statement.
Mr Kenny accepted his statement was “different” but attributed that to him being “very nervous and shocked” at the time.
Mr Mooney suggested to Mr Kenny that the reason he could not drive by Mr Williams easily was because he was working on a vibrating plate at the time, however Mr Kenny said he was not touching the plate.
Mr Mooney put it to Mr Kenny that he was lying and that because his nursing position requires full disclosure he reported the matter to the police to protect himself.
“Is it not the case that this is you attempting to protect yourself when in fact you were the aggressor in this situation…and feared you might be reported for your own behaviour?” he asked him.
Mr Kenny replied: “No, if I was confrontational I would have got out of the car.”
Mr William’s foreman Neil Chatham was called to the stand.
Procurator fiscal Sam Johnson asked Mr Chatham whether he thought his colleague’s conduct had been appropriate.
Mr Chatham said: “No, but he was provoked.”
Sheriff Thornton adjourned the trial until November 18.