A BUSINESSMAN who assaulted a lawyer in his Galashiels office has been fined a total of £1,000.

Malcolm Crawford was found guilty following a trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and seizing a solicitor by the body.

The offences happened at the offices of Iain Smith and Partners in Bank Close, Galashiels, on February 11.

The lawyer told the trial how he had entered the mail room of his offices to tell his lawyer colleague, who was having a meeting with Crawford, that the firm's main meeting room was now available.

He said that 53-year-old Crawford reacted by swearing and saying who is this and then slamming the door leaving the lawyer outside.

The lawyer said: "He was agitated and angry. I was taken aback and could not understand why he was so aggressive."

Later the lawyer took in a cup of tea and asked for an apology saying his conduct was unacceptable.

But he said Crawford replied "the only thing you will be getting is a smack in the mouth".

The lawyer said Crawford then grabbed him around the throat area and had him pinned up against the wall before the lawyer's colleague and Crawford's wife told him to calm down.

The lawyer said that he had been "shocked" by Crawford's reaction and after discussing the situation with his colleague decided to call the police.

Crawford of Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh, had denied the offences but he was found guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear and alarm by swearing and making threatening comments.

He was also found guilty by Sheriff Raymond McMenamin of assaulting the lawyer by seizing him by the body.

Crawford, who has business interests in farming and a hotel, was fined £500 on each charge.