A solicitor has been fined and given five penalty points after he reversed into a pram with a nine-month-old baby inside during a road rage incident.
Conveyancing solicitor James Maguire was said to have shouted and sworn at market traders after they blocked his car outside his house in Haddington, East Lothian in April. The road had been closed off to allow the street market to take place.
Maguire, 60, tried to drive his car through the barriers blocking the street, and as he did so, allowed the vehicle to hit a kerb, roll back and strike the pram.
Haddington Sheriff Court was told by depute fiscal Aidan Higgins that Maguire's car was parked in the restricted area from the night before, and he was asked to move it.
"One of the organisers of the market, Linda Mitchell, became aware of the accused shouting loudly and protesting about having to move his car. When Ms Mitchell tried to reason with the accused he was very abusive," Aidan Higgins said.
"He struck the kerb and allowed his car to roll backwards and it struck a pram that was being pushed by the mother of the nine-month-old baby."
The East Lothian News reports that Maguire claimed he had not seen the No Parking signs outside his home.
His solicitor Mary Moultrie said he was suffering from 'a great deal of stress' at the time of the incident.
He pleaded guilty to driving a car without due care and attention, driving within a pedestrianised area, striking the kerb and allowing his vehicle to move backwards and come into contact with the pram.
He also admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner to the stall holders.
Fining Maguire £400 and endorsing his driving licence, Sheriff Peter Braid told him: "It was an aggravating factor that you were suffering from what is colloquially known as road rage, but you are a first offender and your speed was very slow."