Ayrshire man who drove at a stranger in Paisley jailed

A driver who lost the plot in a row over wheelie bins and drove at a stranger has been jailed for three years.

Christopher Barnes, 29, was angered when he saw Anthony Brown throwing bins at parked cars in Waverley Road and Oliphant Crescent in Paisley.

Barnes, from Dunure, Ayrshire, who was staying at his partner's Paisley home, shouted to Mr Brown to “'p*** off down the street.”

When intoxicated Mr Brown refused to move away, Barnes jumped into a Audi 4 x 4 and drove at him.

He was found guilty after trial of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in January 2018.

Sentencing Barnes, at the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Armstrong told him: “You were found guilty of causing serious injury by driving your vehicle dangerously and driving at a dangerous speed. Your driving caused Mr Brown to fall and he received a serious head injury including bleeding on the brain.

In evidence Barnes said: “There was a lot of noise outside - shouting and banging.I saw a man chucking wheelie bins at the parked cars.”

Lord Armstrong also banned Barnes from driving for two years.

Prosecutors said Barnes raced out and jumped into an Audi 4x4 before going after Brown.

One witness told how she spotted man “zig-zigging” across the road to get away from a car.

Brown ended up with a nasty head injury after then falling in the street.

Barnes denied chasing Mr Brown claiming he just meant to 'have stern words” with him.

Barnes added: “I opened the window and told him to 'p*** off down the street' as he was disturbing us.”

He claimed he only got in the car to take his dog a walk and said Mr Brown just fell.

An allegation that Barnes actually struck Brown with the car was also deleted from the charge.

Solicitor advocate Gerry Considine said: “This was a spontaneous incident. His intention was not to injury but to confront the complainer about his behaviour.''

• paisley
• ayrshire