A woman tried to untie a tree surgeon who was hanging from a bridge as she thought he was making too much noise.
Nicola Stevens, 47, lashed out at Andrew McMillan, 33, as he was removing ivy from a railway bridge in Glasgow’s Jordanhill on May 12, 2019.
Stevens attempted to undo the knots and jumped on the ropes that were keeping him from falling 25 to 30 feet to the ground.
She later doused him in petrol and was clocked trying to spark a lighter.
Stevens was unable to stand trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court as she was deemed “unfit” by a doctor last month.
An examination of facts instead took place in which Stevens’ attendance was excused.
Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC concluded Stevens carried out the charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, assaulting Mr McMillan as well as culpable and reckless conduct.
The court heard from Mr McMillan who told stated in evidence that he and colleague David Nicol, 52, began work after 1am.
Mr McMillan hung himself from the bridge using two knotted ropes which suspended him "25 to 30 feet" from the ground.
Mr Nicol meantime remained on the bridge to keep watch.
The pair heard Stevens - who was in pyjamas and a dressing gown - initially shouted at the pair from a nearby lane.
Prosecutor Carrie Stevens asked Mr McMillan what she was shouting about.
Mr McMillan said: “Sleep deprivation, she said we were on the train line for three nights making lots and lots of noise but that wasn’t true.
“She was crazy if I’m honest, there was no need.
“So many people tried to explain to her but she wasn’t listening to any of it.”
Ms Stevens asked if Stevens did anything specifically to him or Mr Nicol.
The witness replied: “She was trying to undo my ropes, jumping on my rope, shouting for bolt cutters, trying to grab me and hit me.”
Mr McMillan stated Stevens was aggressive as he tried to explain that he had to use a petrol-powered saw which was “noisy” for 10 minutes.
Ms Stevens asked what the consequences would have been if Stevens was able to cut the rope.
Mr McMillan said: “I would have been dangling off the bridge, hanging on to brick or I would have fallen.”
Mr McMillan seized his chance to get back on to the bridge when Stevens went to speak to another person.
He added: “When I got back on the bridge, she was sitting on the middle of the road with a fuel can and a lighter.
“She had tried to click the lighter.”
Mr McMillan tried to get the fuel can - that belonged to him - from Stevens who had taken it from his van.
He said: “She got the can, opened it and poured fuel on me.
“As she poured it on me, I thought nothing but taking that lighter off her so there was a bit of a struggle.
“The petrol went on my face, arms and saturated my jumper and it saturated the house coat she had on.”
Mr McMillan claimed he was head butted and punched by Stevens before retrieving the lighter and threw it away.
He added that he was “sucker punched” as he tried to flee from her.
Mr McMillan stated the incident ended after a young girl showed up and ushered Stevens away before police showed up.
David O’Hagan, defending, asked if the pouring of the petrol on Mr McMillan occurred during the struggle between the pair.
He replied: “Definitely not, I had fuel on me.”
Mr Nicol, in evidence, stated Stevens also smashed Mr McMillan’s head torch and took his mobile phone before the struggle took place.
The case was continued until February pending doctor reports.
Stevens is currently being cared for at her home in the city's Scotstounhill meantime.
