A ROSYTH man began a stalking campaign against his wife’s driving instructor which lasted almost two years.

George Rigby swerved in front of a vehicle the man was giving a lesson in, almost causing a crash.

He warned him to stay out of Rosyth and went to his home in Dunfermline on two occasions to vandalise his car.

Rigby also turned his attention to the owner of the business, making threats and demanding that the instructor be sacked.

Rigby, 48, of Burnside Crescent, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that between April 14, 2018, and March 31, 2020, at various locations in Dunfermline and Rosyth, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused the instructor fear or alarm.

On April 14, 2018, he sent him a threatening message on social media.

On June 11, 2018, at Masterton Road, Dunfermline, he swerved his car in front of the instructor’s dual-control vehicle, causing him to brake sharply to avoid a collision and then acted in the threatening and abusive manner towards him.

On an occasion in July 2018 on the A823 road in Dunfermline, he drove his car in front of the instructor’s vehicle and threatened him with violence should he enter Rosyth.

On January 12 or 13, 2019, at Lady Campbell’s Court, Dunfermline, he damaged two tyres on his vehicle with a sharp implement.

On November 7, 2019, at Colliston Road, Dunfermline, he contacted the man’s employer, demanding that he dismiss the instructor and made threats.

On December 6 or 7, 2019, at Lady Campbell’s Court, he applied a corrosive substance to a vehicle hired by the instructor.

On three separate occasions between November 1 and March 30, 2020, on various roads in Dunfermline or Rosyth, he followed a vehicle in which the instructor was travelling and shouted at him.

The court was told that Rigby’s wife had taken driving lessons from the instructor previously.

Rigby had sent him a threatening message on Facebook saying: “I’m prepared to do life.”

Twice, Rigby swerved in front of the instructor’s car and threatened to assault him unless he stayed out of Rosyth.

He then tracked down the instructor’s boss, telling him that the instructor and Rigby’s wife were having an affair and he better sack him.

If he did not do so, Rigby said he would ruin the owner’s business and make his life hell.

Defence solicitor Aime Allan said there had been “an extra-marital affair” involving her client’s wife which led to the offending.

“It’s bizarre behaviour,” commented Sheriff David Hall.

“He acted in an angry and irrational manner,” the solicitor conceded. “He and his wife are still together,” she added.

Sheriff Hall told Rigby: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. This was ridiculous behaviour over a protracted period.”

He imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work and two years of supervision.

The sheriff also imposed two non-harassment orders for two years and ordered Rigby to pay £200 compensation for the damaged tyres.