Startled residents called police as fists began to fly between uniformed salesmen from rival double-glazing companies in an up-market street, a court heard yesterday.
One of the men had to be taken to hospital after the trio, canvassers from SRJ Windows, based in Rosyth, and Dunfermline-based CR Smith, met while trying to drum up business in leafy Daniel Avenue, Dunblane.
Stirling Sheriff Court was told SRJ Windows’ salesman Darren Cross had an “ongoing disagreement” with CR Smith’s representative Darren Reape.
Mr Reape, 27, had moved to CR Smith from SRJ where he and Cross, 34, were once colleagues and where he had been trained by the third salesmen present on the street, Andrew Jenkins, 29.
Mr Reape had left SRJ four months earlier after a short period of working alongside Cross and Jenkins.
Prosecutor Cheryl Clark said: “When he was there he didn’t get along with Mr Jenkins or Mr Cross. I believe he had reported them to their manager over things he didn’t like about them.
“They weren’t on good terms.
“On the particular day in question, July 21 2017, he was working for his new company in Dunblane.
“About 2pm Cross and Jenkins, also working as door canvassers, were dropped off in the area by their manager and the parties came across one another.
“Mr Cross and Mr Reape became involved in an argument, which became physical and a struggle broke out between them.
“Mr Jenkins became involved and struck Mr Reape in the face.”
The depute fiscal said it was accepted this blow was in defence of Mr Cross, and it caused Mr Reape to fall to the ground; however once he was on the ground Jenkins repeatedly punched him and kicked him.
The fracas then broke up.
When Jenkins and Cross left, Mr Reape was attended to by residents, and police were called.
Paramedics took Mr Reape to hospital, where it was initially feared he might have a fractured eye socket. It transpired nothing was broken.
Jenkins, of Duncan Crescent and Cross of Bittern Court, both Dunfermline, had been due to face trial by jury yesterday accused of assaulting Mr Reape by battering him repeatedly with a glass bottle and repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping on his head and body, causing impairment.
The Crown agreed to accept a plea of not guilty from Cross, and a plea of guilty from Jenkins to a lesser charge of assaulting Mr Reape by punching and kicking him.
Sheriff Wyllie Robertson deferred sentence until January 9 for reports and released Jenkins on bail.
Outside court, Jenkins said: “It didn’t happen the way it sounded. It’s utter fabrication that he made reports about me, but it is what it is.”
