A WHEELIE bin cleaner who landed in hot water over a turf war with a rival firm missed a court date because his wife was diagnosed with cancer, it has emerged.

Adam Ferguson, of Wheelie Clean Services, is facing up to a year behind bars for trying to mow down Bishopton man Ian McCreight, who owns a company with the same name and operates in the same area.

Ferguson, 62, landed in more trouble when a warrant was issued for his arrest because he failed to turn up at court to be sentenced.

However, it has now emerged he missed the court date because his 61-year-old wife Margerey is seriously ill.

When the case against Ferguson called at Paisley Sheriff Court, defence solicitor Alastair Gray explained: “Two days prior to the deferred sentence, he received the news his wife had been diagnosed with cancer.

“Really that took over all the thoughts he was having at the time and, as a result of that, he forgot to attend court.”

“Mr Ferguson would be willing to undertake unpaid work [as part of a Community Payback Order] but there is some ambiguity about that.

“He would be willing to undertake such an order but your Lordship may need further information about whether such an order is likely to succeed.”

Sheriff James Spy called for an updated background report to see whether Ferguson would be fit for unpaid work and adjourned the case until next month.

He also warned Ferguson he could still be jailed for the offence.

Sheriff Spy told him: “I’ll continue this for a period of four weeks to get a supplementary report. You must cooperate with the social work department. I’ll consider all the options in four weeks’ time.”

Ferguson had denied trying to mow down Mr McCreight, 65, in Islay Crescent, Paisley, on June 8 last year.

The court was told Ferguson was in his van when he drove at the victim after a spat over their company names got heated.

Mr McCreight told the trial: “I saw his van coming round the corner at speed. The van pulled up alongside our van – it was all a bit schoolboy-ish. He asked me how long we had been in business and I told him 22 years. He said ‘Ah, we’ve been going 23 years.’ Then he asked what we were called and said he had come up with the name Wheelie Clean Services and I wasn’t smart enough to come up with it.”

Mr McCreight tried to move back to his own vehicle but Ferguson attacked, trying to mow him down with the heavy van, which carries large amounts of water to allow them to clean the bins.

He added: “I approached the back of his van and he went into reverse.

“I tried to bring an end to the whole melee but, as I went to the back of his van, he went into reverse again.

“He reversed again at speed and I had to step back onto the pavement.”

Mr McCreight said he was “shaken” by what had happened and denied claims from Ferguson’s lawyer that he had “made this story up” to try to disrupt his rival’s business as they “work in the same area, have the same business name and provide the same service.”

Ferguson also took the stand to give evidence, claiming the rammy began when he asked Mr McCreight to fold his wing mirror in to allow him to pass on a narrow street.

However, Sheriff Spy dismissed this version of events and found Ferguson, of Irvine, guilty of the offence.