A zoo manager lashed out at the owner of the centre and threatened to kill him, after claiming he was being bullied as a love triangle boiled over, a court heard.
Kenneth Gibney was brought in as boss of the Fife Animal Centre after it was bought over by animal experts Michael Knight and partner Briony Taylor, reported the Daily Record.
But it led to clashes between Mr Knight and Gibney over the running of the zoo and the strained atmosphere deteriorated further when Ms Taylor left her partner and started a relationship with the zoo manager.
The fall-out saw bullying claims by Gibney before he attacked Mr Knight in front of shocked staff at the centre by pushing him over before kicking him in the body.
Now Gibney, who was sacked after the attack, has avoided jail after admitting assaulting Knight at the Fife Animal Centre in Ladybank in February.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Mr Knight, originally from Essex, and Ms Taylor, from Wales, moved to Scotland to take on the zoo, only for the latter to end the relationship and form a new relationship with Gibney.
The court was told Gibney, who still lives with Ms Taylor at the zoo, threatened to kill the company director and was ultimately sacked from his role for gross misconduct.
Gibney, 34, defending himself in court, told how he and Mr Knight “had a lot of problems”.
“He antagonised me in front of the staff I was managing at the time," said Gibney.
“I tried to walk away and he said ‘don’t you dare walk away – I’m your line manager now.’ That’s when I told him to f*** off. He was trying to belittle me.
“I lost my composure and my professionalism. I feel embarrassed I have ended up here in front of you today. This isn’t my normal behaviour.
“I admit the actions I have taken were completely unacceptable and unprofessional. There was about a year’s worth of this type of behaviour towards me.”
Prosecutor Gavin Burton told the court: “At 8am on Thursday, February 3, the complainer was at his employment. He traced the accused in order to have a discussion with him, to discuss having a positive working environment.
“The accused became defensive and told the complainer to f*** off. He continued to shout and swear at the complainer and was behaving aggressively.
“The complainer began to record this on his mobile phone. The accused kept advancing towards the complainer and slapped the laptop out of his hands.
“He pushed him on the upper body, causing him to fall to the ground. Witnesses intervened and stood between the parties. The accused was kicking at the complainer’s feet and said, ‘you f***ing idiot, I’m going to f***ing kill you.’”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “There’s background provocation of sorts. You will be admonished and that is a warning not to behave this way again.”
