Tyreshop threats rapnot proven

A Raploch man accused of making threats of violence at a Stirling garage walked free from court last week.

At the outset of a summary trial at Stirling Sheriff Court last Wednesday, Craig David Brown, of Stewart Square, had denied a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at Stirling Tyres Evotech in Cowane Street on March 4 last year.

The 27-year-old’s not guilty plea to a second charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on Drip Road on June 9, 2017, by acting in an aggressive manner, shouting and repeatedly uttering threats of violence was accepted by the Crown.

The court had heard that there had been a business agreement between Afshaq Ahmed and Brown with the accused operating a car wash within the Stirling Tyres forecourt. Afshaq Ahmed told the court that Brown had shouted threats at him at the garage forecourt on March 4, 2017.

However, following evidence from Mr Ahmed and his 23-year-old son Abbas Ahmed, Brown’s agent Frazer McCreadie told Sheriff Alison McKay that neither witnesses could be considered credible or reliable. He pointed out that Mr Ahmed senior had been evasive and had given no explanation as to why police had not been contacted until June 18, 2017. Mr Ahmed senior had also disputed that Brown had been entitled to remove his property from the premises – despite the Crown conceding that he had been entitled to do so, said the lawyer. There were also inconsistencies between father and son’s evidence and the Crown had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt, he added.

Sheriff McKay told the court: “On the basis of the evidence I have heard I’m quite certain something happened. I can’t be certain exactly what. The charge will be not proven.”