The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Son spared as dad banned for drunk car wrecking spree
Ason whose pub brawl and firebomb threats led to his father smashing cars worth £200,000 on their drunken getaway drive has been spared punishment.
Garage manager Leslie Amos drunkenly crashed into five cars including a Porsche 911 Black Edition after going to rescue his unruly son Ryan Amos, 22.
Ryan Amos got out of the badly damaged car and attacked two innocent passers-by who had tried to intervene to stop the drunken post-pub rampage.
But Sheriff George Way allowed Amos Jr to walk free from court by admonishing him after being told he had stayed out of trouble since the incident.
Amos Jr admitted two charges of assault and acting in an abusive manner at the pub, refusing to leave, and threatening to burn the property down.
His solicitor, Calum Harris, said: “He had far too much to drink and was not conducting himself in an orderly manner. He was probably being rather disruptive.
“His memory of the incident is not great. He is clearly embarrassed by his behaviour.”
Leslie Amos had already been banned after drunkenly crashing into five cars as he tried to drive his brawling son home from the pub.
The Peter Vardy body shop repair manager was disqualified from driving for 28 months and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
Amos, 49, left a trail of destruction before launching a tirade of bigoted abuse – while his son Ryan was attacking two concerned passers-by in the street.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that six cars – including the repair boss’s own VW Tiguan – were damaged during the incident on August 7 2021.
Fiscal depute Lee Corr told the court that Ryan Amos had been involved in a fracas at the Stag Inn in Falkland and had been told to leave the pub.
Mr Corr said: “They were out drinking. They are father and son. They left and Leslie Amos got into the driver’s seat of a VW Tiguan.
“Whilst driving, the accused’s vehicle collided with a parked vehicle, which was a black Porsche, causing damage to the nearside bumper, wing and wheel.
“The VW made its way to Main Street, Dunshalt, and collided with a parked Kia Sportage, causing denting and scraping along the nearside.
“A short distance later the Tiguan collided with the nearside of a parked VW Polo, causing extensive damage. The Polo was pushed into a parked Honda Civic, causing extensive damage to the front bumper and bonnet.
“This caused a further collision with another vehicle – a Lexus – causing damage to that. The accused’s vehicle came to a stop in the middle of Main Street.”
Mr Corr said a number of residents had come out of their homes to investigate what was happening after hearing the collisions take place.
“One of the residents was Kevin Adamson, who went to the Tiguan to provide assistance to the accused. The engine was still running so he removed the keys from the ignition.
“He closed the door to keep Leslie Amos in the vehicle. Ryan Amos was in the front passenger seat. He exited and went round the vehicle to remonstrate with the civilians.
“He assaulted Mr Adamson by taking hold of him and pushing him to the ground. Kevin Adamson and Craig Cooper were trying to calm Ryan Amos down.
“Leslie Amos exited the vehicle. Ryan Amos thereafter assaulted Craig Cooper by trying to punch him and then pushed him to the ground. Police were contacted. Leslie Amos was shouting and swearing at the residents in the street. He was calling them ‘f ****** c***.’ When police arrived he said ‘what are you going to do? Arrest me?”
Officers could smell alcohol from Amos Sr and tried to carry out a roadside breath-test, but he refused to co-operate.
Solicitor Danielle Stringer, for the father, said: “He works for Peter Vardy where he is the body shop manager. This incident started at the Stag Inn. Unfortunately, his son got assaulted and he tried to get them both away and this caused events to spiral.”
Leslie Amos, of Ladybank Road, Dunshalt, admitted driving in Falkland and Dunshalt while he was unfit through drink or drugs on August 7 2021.
He also admitted driving carelessly and causing damage to five cars in addition to his own, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, and hurling homophobic abuse in the street.