A 62-year-old former Tay District Salmon Board inspector has been cleared of assaulting the boss of a Perth car repair firm.
Derek Gregor had denied throwing neighbour Michael Paton, 65, to the ground and kicking him on the head and body to his injury outside his home at Almondgrove, Huntingtowerfield, Perth.
The case against Mr Gregor was found not proven by Sheriff Michael Fletcher at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday.
Sheriff Fletcher stated that the injuries suffered by Mr Paton were not consistent with his description of being repeatedly kicked hard on the ground.
Mr Paton, a managing director at Elder and Paton car body repair firm, and his partner Linda Band gave evidence that the attack happened outside Mr Gregor’s home while they were walking their dog on December 15 2013. The couple stated that Mr Gregor kicked and kneed Mr Paton on the ground several times, leaving him with bleeding and bruising around one eye.
However, Mr Gregor claimed that the fight was more of a “wrestling match” and that he was wearing boots with a reinforced toe at the time of the incident. Forensic scientist Dr Anthony Busuttil stated that the severity of the injuries did not suggest repeated heavy blows.
Sheriff Fletcher said: “The incident is described by three witnesses. As far as credibility is concerned I doubt that I could suggest any of them appeared to be credible.
“Two witnesses described the incident in a way that isn’t lived up to by injuries that took place. Inconsistencies between the level of violence described and injuries scientifically spoken to by Dr Busuttil don’t gel.”