Worker threatened to kill his employer and daughter

A worker threatened to kill his employer and his daughter in a dispute over car registration documents in Dunfermline.

The business owner was leasing out vehicles and was shocked to hear from the DVLA that they had been sold.

William Sneddon, the worker who leased out the five vehicles involved, went absent and then started threatening his employer.

Sneddon (32), formerly of Newton Crescent, Rosyth, now of Colinton Place, Glasgow, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that between 7th and 9th August last year at Duncan Crescent, Dunfermline, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly acting aggressively and making threats of violence towards his employer and his daughter.

Depute fiscal Alex Piper told the court that the victim owns a car business and Sneddon worked there for a period, initially on vehicle repairs.

Latterly he was allowed to deal with the leasing of vehicles. On 9th July last year he failed to turn up for work and by 12th July he was still absent.

The businessman called him and Sneddon said he had family problems but would be returning to work the next week.

However, the following week he said the difficulties had not been resolved and he was still not at work.

The man was also becoming concerned about payments not being made for vehicles which had been leased out by Sneddon.

The complainer then received a letter from DVLA saying five people were seeking V5 registration documents as new owners. He wrote back saying the vehicles had only been leased, not been sold.

Sneddon then contacted his employer threatening him that he would be killed by the people buying the vehicles if they did not receive the documents.

On the morning of 8th August, Sneddon called the workshop again threatening the man and his daughter, who also worked there.

“He said persons living in Glasgow would get them,” said the depute. “They became quite fearful.” They later contacted the police.

The court was told Sneddon had since moved from Fife to live in Glasgow.

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Sneddon £500.