A GARDENER overcome with road rage punched a man in front of his wife and child because he wasn’t impressed with his driving.

Just two weeks prior Gareth Johnstone had become angry at another motorist, following a woman into the Kingsgate Shopping Centre's car park and telling her he would "batter" her if she'd been a man.

Depute fiscal Carrie Stevens told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that on September 15, 2016 at 8.20pm the male victim was driving down Queensferry Road with his wife and six year-old son when another vehicle appeared close behind him.

"The vehicle was so close that could not see the registration number so he pulled into side lane to allow the car to pass," she said.

"But when he stopped the other vehicle also stopped behind him."

The family had pulled over at Church Street in Inverkeithing and the accused got out and shouted at the man: 'Come on then, get out of the car.'

He then punched him on the mouth through the open car window. Johnstone started to walk away but then threw a glass bottle at the family's car.

The incident at the Kingsgate car park in Dunfermline occurred around lunch time on September 2, 2016.

The female had been driving in the town and turned into the car park from James Street.

She noticed the car that had been behind her had followed her.

Johnstone came up to the window of her car and said: "Oh, you're a bird, I thought you were a dude.

"You're lucky that you're a bird because I was going to batter you. You should not cut people up."

Johnstone went back to his car and with the window open he shouted at the woman, "Do you want me to come and slap you?"

As he drove off he continued shouting abusive language at her.

Johnstone, 29, of Calder Grove, Edinburgh, admitted that on September 15, 2016, at Church Street, Inverkeithing, he assaulted a man by punching him on the head, and did culpably and recklessly throw a glass bottle at a car, endangering the passengers inside.

He also previously admitted that on September 2, 2016 at the car park in the Kingsgate, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing at a female driver and uttering threats of violence towards her.

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said her client resides with his partner and child and works full time as a gardener for Edinburgh City Council.

She said: "Mr Johnstone takes full responsibility for his actions. It all comes down to his perception of other people's driving but he is aware of his own conduct.

"Mr Johnstone has said that he is worried about his behaviour and has sought help from his GP."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: "These were two outrageous incidents of road rage committed within two weeks of each other and whilst you take some responsibility, it is noticeable that you blamed it on the other people driving.”

Johnstone was subject to an 11 month restriction of liberty order, 225 hours of unpaid work and a two year supervision order.