A motorist was trailed through the streets of Dundee by a road rage taxi driver who wanted to fight him, a court heard.
Gary Middleton, 33, started a foul-mouthed tirade after cutting across Robert Whelan at a junction.
Fiscal depute Joanne Smith told the city’s sheriff court that the incident happened around 9pm on June 12 last year, as Mr Whelan gave a friend a lift home.
Both the accused and victim’s cars were sitting at the junction of Albert Street and Arbroath Road.
The fiscal said: “As the lights changed, Mr Whelan began to turn left, and as he did so, the taxi pulled out and turned right on to Arbroath Road, cutting in front of him.”
Mr Whelan commented to his pal and gesticulated towards Middleton.
“Just as the taxi drew level with the junction at Robertson Street, the accused slammed on the brakes, causing Mr Whelan to stop behind him,” the fiscal continued.
“The accused was leaning out of his window and shouting at Mr Whelan, threatening him and challenging him to fight. Mr Whelan tried to pull out and manoeuvre past.
As he did so, the accused pulled his vehicle out in front of Mr Whelan, preventing him from passing.”
Mr Whelan managed to pass and made his way up Arbroath Road. Middleton followed him, driving close to his bumper.
The fiscal continued: “Mr Whelan put on his brakes and the accused drove past him and continued up Arbroath Road. At this time, Mr Whelan realised he had not noted the registration of the taxi and then followed Middleton in an attempt to get it.”
Mr Whelan noticed Middleton had stopped near to the junction of Dalkeith Road, and when he turned into Dalkeith Road he looked in his rear mirror and saw Middleton was following him again.
Mr Whelan then phoned police, at which point Middleton pulled alongside him and continued to shout and swear and challenge him to fight.
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, told the court Middleton was no longer in employment.
Middleton, of Balunie Street, admitted he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence towards Robert Whelan, challenging him to fight, following him closely in a car and committing a breach of the peace.
Sheriff Hughes deferred sentencing until December 21 for reports.
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