Jury finds joiner not guilty of attack

James Keir (59) was speaking last Wednbesday after a jury took less than 15 minutes to find him not guilty of assaulting his next door neighbour, Brian Johnston (55) to his severe injury.

The verdict came after a two-day trial.

Mr Keir told Falkirk Sheriff Court he had been ambushed by Mr Johnston and other members of his family in the incident at their shared gate on the day of the 2015 General Election.

The court heard that Mr Keir’s still-uncompleted mansion, Brigadoon, in Reddingmuirhead, and Mr Johnston’s more modest home, Col-Dene, shared a driveway, over which there had been a history of disputes since Mr Johnston moved in six years ago.

On May 7 last year, the situation flared into violence when the men clashed over a gate being left open wih both receiving injuries.