A road rage van man has been slammed by a sheriff for his “utterly outrageous” Angus dangerous driving after justice caught up with him nearly two-and-a-half years down the line.
Darren Brown was also slated for the “vile” language he volleyed at a female motorist who had tackled the Dundee man, telling him he could have killed someone with his antics on the outskirts of Montrose.
The 42-year-old has now been banned for 30 months and must resit an extended test after seeing red when another motorist’s driving had annoyed him in the 2017 offence.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the woman driver had to brake sharply near Rossie Braes on the outskirts of Montrose in the 6.45pm incident when Brown’s van made a three-point turn in front of her.
Brown then flashed his lights and indicators at another motorist before overtaking him, pulling in sharply and then suddenly braking, almost causing a collision.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery said the same thing happened twice more with the other driver and Brown overtook and then pulled in.
“On the third occasion, the van approached at speed from the rear, this time sounding its horn and flashing lights before overtaking and coming to a complete stop in the middle of the road,” she said.
“The other driver manoeuvred around the van, but due to becoming increasingly concerned pulled into a nearby garage and police were contacted.”
Brown then arrived at the garage and was seen ranting and pointing his finger in the face of the male motorist he had been involved in the road rage incident against.
The fiscal said the female motorist who had witnessed his driving then also pulled in to berate him and was met with a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse.
Brown, of North William Street, Dundee pled guilty in January last year to dangerous driving on the A92 on September 22 2017, but the court heard he subsequently failed to appear for sentence and there had been an outstanding warrant against him since.
Defence solicitor Michael Boyd said: “He was in a different place at that time. He is now on the threshold of obtaining work, ironically in traffic management putting out cones on roadworks.”
Sheriff Derek Reekie told Brown: “To drive in this utterly outrageous way would put the fear of death into anyone on the road.
“It was appalling and you should be ashamed of yourself.
“You then compound matters by using utterly vile language to other road users who challenge you over your outrageous driving,” said the sheriff.
Brown was also ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work in a year.
