Threats and abuse after £1,500puppy killed by car

Owner launched tirade at driver after he ran over and fatally injured family’s pedigree pup

A devastated dog owner who launched a tirade of threats against a driver who ran over and killed his £1,500 pedigree pup could be jailed.

Johnathan Simpson’s family had only had the expensive animal 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 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: “The daughter had been bought a pedigree puppy that cost £1,500 and they had had it for around three months.

“Around two weeks before this incident the complainer had run over the puppy and the dog was killed.

“Discussions between the complainer and the driver of the van took place and he accepted full responsibility and liability and said they should claim for their loss through the company’s insurers.

“But the company said it wasn’t a matter for them and referred him back to the driver.

“On the date of the offence he was driving to his mother’s home when he came across the complainer in his van and this incident occurred.

“He accepts he conducted himself in a manner he shouldn’t have.”

Sheriff Simon Collins QC deferred sentence for a social work background report to see if there is any alternative to a prison sentence.