A bullying driver who “erupted” after getting a parking ticket abused a traffic warden in a bizarre chase through Dundee city centre.
Grant Grubb’s parking punishment has escalated from a £30 fixed-penalty notice to an immediate driving ban and potential jail sentence after terrorising Dundee City Council employee Richie Knox last January.
He lost control after he had illegally parked his green Vauxhall Astra car in a pedestrianised zone outside the former Deja-Vu nightclub on Cowgate.
Mr Knox wrote a parking ticket and Grubb returned to his car shortly afterwards.
He screamed: “Why the f**k have you given me a ticket?”
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Mr Knox, for his own safety, activated his body camera and headed back to the warden base on Gellatly Street.
Grubb, 40, chased him through a number of streets clearly marked “no-entry” and “one-way”.
Chased frightened worker
Depute fiscal Lee Corr told the court: “At around 11.22am on January 13 2021, the witness Mr Knox was on foot patrol on Cowgate.
“He issued a penalty notice after he became aware of a green Vauxhall Astra parked outside Deja-Vu nightclub.
“As he walked away he could hear tyres screech behind him.
“The accused drove through a no-entry sign and caught up with him.
“He exited his vehicle and shouted ‘why the f**k have you given me a ticket?’
“Mr Knox explained why he had issued the ticket.
“Mr Knox became fearful of the accused’s behaviour and went back toward Gellatly Street.
“He walked down Sugarhouse Wynd, which is a one-way street.
“Mr Knox activated his body camera.”
Pursuit continues
The court was shown footage of the Astra careering down Sugarhouse Wynd in contravention of the one-way sign.
A visibly angry Grubb emerges from the car and can be heard screaming at Mr Knox.
He shouted: “Do you think walking down the street is going to f**king save you?”
The footage showed Mr Knox walk to Seagate, opposite the bus station.
Grubb continued his chase, mounting the kerb in front of Mr Knox in a threatening way.
He continued screaming obscenities at the warden.
As Mr Knox made his way back to Gellatly Street, Grubb again ignored the one-way sign and drove down the street after him.
Police abuse
Mr Corr added: “On January 26 police attended the accused’s home in connection with the incident.
“The accused provided his details and claimed to have no knowledge why they had attended his home.
“The accused told police to ‘f**k off’ and called them ‘fairies’.
“He was placed under arrest and taken to Bell Street station.
“When he was charged he responded ‘f**k off, you fanny.”
Sheriff’s confusion
Grubb admitted driving dangerously and acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards Richie Knox and police officers.
Defence solicitor Jim Caird agreed with Sheriff George Way it was a “bizarre” reaction to receiving a ticket.
Deferring sentence for reports, Sheriff Way added: “For someone his age to erupt like this does not make sense.”
Grubb, of Springhill Gardens, will return for sentencing on February 27.
He was disqualified from driving meantime.
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