A taxi driver threatened to break the jaw of a Sheriff Officer when he came to his house to leave papers for an unpaid debt incurred by a neighbour.
John Fraser, 51, of 4 Meadowfield Avenue, Inverness denied threatening violence towards 42 year old Alistair Hogg of Scott and Co, Inverness on March 19 this year.
But he was found guilty after trial at Inverness Sheriff Court and Sheriff David Sutherland deferred sentence for a background report.
Today Fraser was fined £500 after solicitor John MacColl said that the report showed his client was at low risk of re-offending and would not be a danger to the public.
During the trial, Mr Hogg told the court that he and 59-year-old colleague Alistair Barker went to Milton of Leys to serve papers on a Barry Fraser, of 4a Meadowfield Avenue, for unpaid council tax, having obtained a warrant entitling them to enter the property.
He said 4a was a converted garage of number 4 and someone was working in the house. He identified John Fraser as the man who met him at the door.
He said: “He asked me who I was and I told him I was a sheriff officer with papers to serve on Barry Fraser. He was abusive and aggressive towards me and told me to get off his land.”
Mr Hogg said that Fraser threatened to break his jaw if he did not leave the property. The sheriff officers left the area and contacted the police. They later returned to the property and served the papers on Barry Fraser.
Questioned by defence lawyer John MacColl, Fraser admitted most of the conversation, but denied he threatened Mr Hogg and using swear words.
He said: “It is embarrassing having a sheriff officer at your door when they are not looking for me so I wanted them to leave my property. I had to ask them four or five times. They are lying when they said I made a threat.”
