A road-rage driver who made throat-slitting gestures to a man in front of his wife, children and mother-in-law as he overtook them has had seven points slapped on his licence.
Waleed Khan, aged 49, drove right up behind the family’s car on the A90 before getting impatient and driving closely past and gesticulating.
He first lost his temper between Claverhouse and Fintry in Dundee when he drew his finger across his throat, but the family later came across him between Stonehaven and Newtonhill on the same journey, where he made more angry signs on July 19 last year.
Fiscal depute Jane Smith told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The complainer was driving his vehicle in the outside lane because there was a problem with a broken down car on the inside lane.
“He was approaching a roundabout when the accused started sounding his horn to try and get him to move over. The complainer became aware of the vehicle close behind him. He couldn’t get back across to the nearside lane because of traffic. He had his family in the car with him.
“When he did manage to get back across he noticed the accused directly behind him before he overtook on the right hand side. The accused made a gesture in which he drew his finger across his throat.
“Later on in the journey, purely by coincidence they came across each other again at a junction near Stonehaven. He made another gesture with his hand.”
Khan, of Ladybank Avenue in Preston, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and careless driving.
Defence agent Martin Black said: “He is totally ashamed of his behaviour, and wants to offer his heartfelt apologies. He knows he has placed himself in this position. He has been driving for some 30 years. He works at British car auctions and drives to different auctions across the country. He has never been in trouble before.”
Sheriff Malcolm Garden said: “I don’t understand why people like you think you are so important that everybody else must get out of the way. For someone who drives for a living you showed a bad kind of attitude.”
He also fined Khan £650.