A Dunfermline van driver who slashed another motorist with a Stanley knife in a road rage incident near the Queensferry Crossing has been jailed.
Shaun Boyle, 52, used the blade to puncture two tyres on the other vehicle before striking the driver, Ross Duthie, with the weapon.
He also deliberately drove his vehicle at Mr Duthie during the incident on the M90 on May 13 2021.
Boyle, of Dunfermline‘s Dover Drive, was found guilty of four charges following a trial at the city’s sheriff court last month. and returned to court for sentencing on Thursday.
He was convicted of driving dangerously, excessively close to the back of Mr Duthie’s car, causing him to take evasive action.
He then drove his van at Mr Duthie, before maliciously punctured two tyres on his victim’s car with a Stanley knife.
He assaulted Mr Duthie with the knife to his injury and was further found guilty of illegally possessing the Stanley knife.
His road rage crimes happened on the M90 at the Queensferry Crossing and Ferrytoll and he was on bail at the time.
‘Good fortune’ wound was not serious
Sheriff Charles Macnair said the assault resulted in minor injury but this was due to good fortune.
“You slashed him and it went through his clothing and went through his skin.
“Any assault with a knife is a very serious matter and of course, you were in possession of that knife as an offensive weapon”.
The sheriff also highlighted part of Boyle’s dangerous driving involved a “deliberate aiming of the vehicle at the complainer”.
He sentenced Boyle to 12 months in prison and banned him from driving for 30 months
Carer for wife and child
Defence lawyer Aime Allan told the court her client is a primary carer for his son, who needs 24-hour care and he also sometimes cares for his wife.
Ms Allan said he owns a business but it has not been generating an income due to uncertainty around the case and the loss of his driving licence.
Companies House states Boyle is listed as a company director for Healthy Lawns Ltd and links it to his home address.
Sheriff Macnair acknowledged the “significant personal mitigation” in relation to the health of Boyle’s family when delivering his sentence.
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