Road-rage row in Galashiels leads to £500 fine for 25-year-old

Russell Walker, 25, of Magdala Terrace in Galashiels, pleaded guilty to assaulting a man by punching him to the head on June 6.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that confrontation, at around 8pm, was sparked by a vehicle Walker was travelling in as a passenger pulling out in front of the victim’s car, leading to its horn being sounded.

There was then an exchange of words, and Walker got out of the car and punched the driver of the other vehicle in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said Walker had only reacted because his uncle had been pushed first during the confrontation, but he admitted: “It was an inappropriate response. He should not have taken that course of action.”

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin told Walker: “You took things to another level.”