Salesman punched rival in street bust-up
A double glazing salesman who punched and kicked a rival salesman in a Dunblane street during a fight was this week ordered to carry out unpaid work.
SRJ Windows’ salesman Andrew Jenkins had admitted assaulting former SRJ employee Darren Reape, who had moved on to CR Smith, in Daniel Avenue on July 21, 2017.
Stirling Sheriff Court had been told that SRJ Windows’ salesman Darren Cross had an ongoing disagreement with Mr Reape.
Cross (34) and 27-year-old Mr Reape were once colleagues. Mr Reape had also been trained by the third salesman on the street, Andrew Jenkins, 29. Mr Reape had left SRJ four months earlier. Prosecutor Cheryl Clark had explained: “When he was there he didn’t get along with Mr Jenkins or Mr Cross. I believe he had reported them to their manager over things he didn’t like about them. On the day in question he was working for his new company in Dunblane.
“About 2pm Cross and Jenkins, also working as door canvassers, were dropped off in the area by their manager and the parties came across one another.
“Mr Cross and Mr Reape became involved in an argument which became physical and a struggle broke out between them.
“Due to the struggle going on between Mr Cross and Mr Reape, Mr Jenkins became involved and struck Mr Reape in the face.”
The depute fiscal said it was accepted this blow was in defence of Mr Cross and it caused Mr Reape to fall to the ground. Once he was on the ground Jenkins repeatedly punched him and kicked him.
Miss Clark said: “Bystanders in their gardens and people driving by in vehicles could see this going on.”
Jenkins and Cross, both of Dunfermline, later left the area and Mr Reape was attended to by residents while police were called.
Mr Reape was taken to hospital and treated for a black eye, swollen cheek and a cut over his eyebrow.
The Crown accepted a plea of not guilty from Cross and a plea of guilty from Jenkins to a charge of assaulting Mr Reape by punching and kicking him.
Stephen Morrison, for Jenkins, had earlier told the court: “It’s fair to say they didn’t see eye-to-eye and, having left the firm, Mr Reape had some sort of ongoing disagreement with Mr Cross on social media. At times it became quite vitriolic.
“The parties found themselves in the same street and a fight developed between Darren Reape and Darren Cross. Mr Jenkins only became involved when his friend and coworker screamed for help. Mr Cross claims Mr Reape was trying to gouge his eye out.
“Mr Jenkins saw blood coming from his friend’s face. He attempted to pull Mr Reape away. Mr Reape turned and attempted unsuccessfully to punch Mr Jenkins. Mr Jenkins then punched Mr Reape in selfdefence. Mr Reape fell and grabbed Mr Jenkins’ legs on the way down. Both of them ended up on the ground.
“Mr Jenkins accepts he was able to disentangle himself and whilst beginning to get up he accepts he punched Mr Reape to the head a number of times and as he got to his feet he accepts he also a number of times delivered kicks to his body.”
On Wednesday, Mr Morrison told Sheriff Wyllie Robertson that Jenkins was “more than willing” to comply with a term of unpaid work. Sheriff Robertson sentenced him to 225 hours’ unpaid work – discounted from 300 hours’ due to his guilty plea – to be carried out within six months.