Prison warning after Forss driver's latest road rage offence

A driver with road rage convictions narrowly avoided prison this week when he recorded his latest such offence.

However, Jamie Sutherland was warned by a sheriff that any repetition of a similar nature would inevitably attract a custodial sentence.

Wick Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that the 28-year-old and another driver – who was 17 and can’t be named for legal reasons – stopped their vehicles in Princes Street, Thurso, late on January 22, following an earlier difference.

In what Fiscal David Barclay described as “a classic case of road rage”, Sutherland lashed out twice at the teenager, inflicting a cut beneath his eye.

The fiscal added: “The accused then got into his car and drove off. The two drivers were strangers to each other.”

Solicitor Natalie Paterson said that a report before the court was positive and indicated that Sutherland was a hard worker who had engaged in an unpaid work order imposed on a previous, unrelated matter.

Sheriff Donald Ferguson observed that Sutherland, who admitted a charge of assault, had an offending record which included a number of convictions for road rage behaviour.

The sheriff told the accused, who was subject to a bail order at the time: “You seem to have difficulty in keeping your temper and your hands in check” and indicated that the accused would inevitably end up in prison if such behaviour continued.

The sheriff added: “On this occasion, I am not going to impose a custodial sentence but you have come fairly close to it.”

Sutherland, of Orkney View, Brims, Forss, was fined £500 and ordered to pay the other driver compensation of £200.