Court told of tirade of threats to driver who ran over and killed dog

A devastated dog owner who launched a tirade of threats against a driver who ran over and killed his £1,500 pedigree pup after the man refused to stump up cash to reimburse the loss has avoided a jail term.

Johnathan Simpson’s family bought the expensive animal – but had only had it for three months when David Irvine ran over it on a rural road in Fife after the dog escaped from a garden.

The driver initially said the family – who had bought the dog for Simpson’s daughter – should claim compensation through his employer’s insurance.

But when Simpson contacted the unnamed firm they refused to get involved and told him to contact Mr Irvine.

Later, Simpson spotted Mr Irvine driving near his home – and began a sustained tirade of threats and abuse.

A sheriff told Simpson he was guilty of making “nasty and sustained” demands during the incident.

Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair told Dundee Sheriff Court that Simpson had demanded upwards of £2,000 in compensation from Mr Irvine when he launched his tirade.

He then shouted at the driver before threatening to damage property as he demanded the money.

Miss Sinclair said: “Eventually he agreed to pay £98 towards the cremation costs of the puppy.”

Simpson, 28, of Pitmedden Wynd, Auchtermuchty, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, committed on November 4 last year.

Defence solicitor Katrina Clark said: “He accepts he conducted himself in a manner he shouldn’t have.”

Sheriff Simon Collins QC imposed a community payback order with 200 hours unpaid work as a direct alternative to a prison sentence.

He said: “This comes down to a nasty and sustained piece of demanding money with menaces.

“There is no justification for the behaviour.”