A78 road rage war veteran caused £4k damage to woman's car

Former soldier Barry Aitken erupted in fury and caused the fearful woman to take refuge in her vehicle before booting it and leaving her with a near £4,000 repair bill following the violent incident on the A78 through Greenock.

The 45-year-old - who served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Afghanistan and Bosnia - was given a community payback order with six months to complete the 40 hours after the sheriff court was told he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Sheriff James Varney decided not to impose a compensation order on Aitken after defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said it 'simply would not be possible for him to manage' a financial penalty.

Prosecutor Ashley Pollock told the court that the woman was returning home from work on July 22 last year, with Aitken travelling in the lane beside her on the main road.

Barry Aitken (Image: NQ)

The fiscal depute said the woman attempted to overtake him but when she moved into the lane Aitken began remonstrating with her, waving his arms and shouting.

Ms Pollock said: "Both vehicles came to a stop, he exited his car and approached her shouting and pointing at her in an irate fashion, making comments on how close she was driving to him.

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"She exited and attempted to calm him down then re-entered her vehicle to prevent things from escalating.

"She managed to get away from the vehicle then he kicked a door causing denting to the metalwork."

Police were contacted, by which time Aitken had left the scene.

Barry Aitken (Image: NQ)

He handed himself into Greenock police station on Rue End Street later that evening.

After being cautioned and charged, he told officers: "Aye, I hold my hands up, I kicked her door and I shouldn't have done that.

"That's why I came into the station to talk to an officer."

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Solicitor Gerry Keenan told the court that Aitken, who was involved in a £7 million heroin bust on the first day of a patrol in Bosnia in 2005, has spent 'a lot of time in serious situations' and 'has suffered for it'.

Mr Keenan suggested that the offences could be partly attributed to his PTSD condition, however, Sheriff James Varney said the 'particularly nasty incident' must have been 'terrifying' for the victim.

Greenock Sheriff Court (Image: NQ)

Mr Keenan said: "He lost his temper but demonstrated contrition almost immediately and he apologises again today."

Sheriff Varney told Aitken: "The complainer had not done anything wrong, no matter what you thought about the manner of her driving.

"There are ways and means of dealing with that, like reporting it to police, but you chose not to do that."

First offender Aitken, of Columba Street, was given a community payback order as punishment and must complete 40 hours of unpaid work within six months.