An indebted businessman has escaped a potential death sentence after lifting and dumping a debt collector's car with his forklift.
Bernard Rooney, 46, chased sheriff's officer James McFarlane, who intended to impound a GBP6,000 (USD10,900) hot tub, to his car before fetching a forklift.
According to a Sunday Mail report, Mr Rooney lifted the debt collector and his Ford Mondeo and dumped them 40 metres away.
Mr Rooney, who sells saunas and spas, had company arrears of GBP4,000 (USD7,300). Mr McFarlane had been sent to recover goods to be auctioned to pay the debt.
After the attack, Mr Rooney was charged with "deforcement of messengers", which once carried the death penalty, but he admitted to a lesser charge of driving a forklift culpably and recklessly and with a criminal disregard for the consequences and the danger to Mr McFarlane.
He was likely to face a community service order, the report said.