A Transit van driver who followed a “scared and alarmed” woman for miles and up a private lane claims it was a case of mistaken identity over an unpaid bill.
Robert Sands tailed his victim along the A96 in his works van, flashing his lights as he went, and then up narrow road to Burgie Mains near Forres.
It was only then, when the woman got out of her car and was joined by a friend, that Sands realised he had the wrong person, Elgin Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said the 67-year-old first came to the woman’s attention as she pulled into a layby on the A96 Elgin-to-Forres road near the Alves crawler lane at around 3.30pm on January 28 last year.
While parked there she noticed the Transit van pull in behind her and when she pulled away shortly after it followed.
Even followed her up private road
“As it followed her she was of the view the driver was trying to get her attention,” the fiscal said.
“As she was on the straight near Alves railway bridge the van began to flash its lights.
“She turned towards Burgie Mains and it still followed her. At this point, she felt scared and after one mile she reached the turn-off for a private road, which she took.
“The van followed her up the track for Burgie Mains.”
The woman met a friend there and both saw Sands behind the wheel. He stayed there for “about 10 seconds” before driving back the way he came.
“She was alarmed by this so attended at Forres police station and reported the matter,” the court was told.
“The accused was traced and interviewed and fully cooperated. He indicated that he thought he knew the driver of the vehicle.”
Sands pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Believed he was chasing a non-payer
His defence agent Matthew O’Neill confirmed it was a case of mistaken identity.
“He is a self-employed tradesman and he had carried out some work for an individual in the local area,” he said.
“That individual had not provided payment to him. He was led to believe that the person was driving the same vehicle as the person on the day in question.
“He tried to carry out his own investigations. He accepts there are more professional steps he could have taken to get the money back from the correct individual.
“He followed it to take steps to identify where the person was residing. Clearly when he realised that was not the right person he left the area.
“He acknowledges his behaviour on this day caused the complainer some concern and he recognises it was not something he should have done.”
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood fined Sands, of Grant Street, Burghead, £395.
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