Taxi driver threatened to break sheriff officer's jawA TAXI driver who threatened to break a sheriff officer’s jaw when he arrived to serve papers on a man for council tax arrears has been fined £500.
Fifty-one-year-old John Fraser was convicted after a trial last month having denied on March 19 behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing and threatening violence towards Sheriff’s Officer Alistair Hogg.
Mr Hogg told the court he arrived at a property in Meadowfield Avenue to serve the papers on Barry Fraser for money owed to Highland Council.
But he was met at the door by John Fraser who told him to get off his property or he would "break his f.... jaw".
Mr Hogg (42) said the property appeared to be a garage that had been converted into a flat adjoining a house in Meadowfield Avenue in Inshes.
When he arrived the door was slightly ajar and Fraser was kneeling on the floor doing some work.
He said Fraser stood up and asked him who he was.
"I said I was a Sheriff’s Officer and he became verbally abusive and told me to get off his land and if I didn’t get off his land within five seconds he would break my f.... jaw."
Mr Hogg described how Fraser started counting up to five.
"I have no doubt he would have done it so I started to retreat," he said.
The Sheriff’s Officer said when he retreated to the entrance to the property Fraser drew an imaginary line on the road and said: "If you cross that I’ll f..... have you."
Mr Hogg said he felt shocked and had no doubt Fraser would have carried out his threat.
Fraser claimed Mr Hogg and a colleague Alistair Barker (59), who also gave evidence at the trial, were lying.
John McColl said Fraser had not previous convictions for the past 10 years and it appeared to be an isolated incident.
He asked the Sheriff to draw a line under the case with a financial penalty.
http://www.north-star-news.co.uk/News/T ... 112014.htm
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