Man’s £600 fine for outburst at road workers

An Angus man has been fined £600 after a volley of abuse towards workmen on a closed-off rural road.

Jamie Brock came out of an estate road on the B9128 between Forfar and Muirdrum, but found himself in the midst of roadworks in the February 27 incident.

The 36-year-old, of Windyedge Farm Cottages, Brechin, did not appear at Forfar Sheriff Court, but depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said Brock became abusive towards the road workers when he was told to turn back.

“The road was closed for repairs, it was around 12.30 and the workmen were on their lunch break,” said Mr Duncan. “One of the workers attempted to alert him that the road was closed by sounding his horn, but the accused stuck his hand out and gesticulated towards him.”

Brock then said: “What way can I go? You better get this road opened in two minutes.”

The accused refused to turn back, drove through the road closure and then into a field and down an embankment.

Police found him hiding in a ditch around half a mile away.

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said the accused had been working on a local estate and was adamant that he had not gone through a road closed sign from where he joined the B9128.

“It was a misunderstanding, both by him and the road workers. There were six or eight fairly burley workmen and their language was somewhat earthy towards them,” added the solicitor.

Sheriff Alison McKay said: “He works in the construction industry and should know the rights and wrongs. He accepts he acted inappropriately.”