'Wedding rage' florist sentenced

Rosalind Watson hurries away from court into a waiting car

A florist who knocked down a bride in a dispute over wedding flowers has been given 160 hours community service.

Rosalind Watson drove into Kathryn Rooney when she and her fiancé turned up at her shop in Perthshire to complain at being double-charged.

She had previously been found guilty at Perth Sheriff Court of assaulting the newly-wed and of dangerous driving.

Watson, 37, of Aberuthven, was also banned from driving for a year and ordered to re-sit her test.

I am glad it is finally over, more than four months after we went to court Kathryn Rooney

Greg and Kathryn Rooney had paid £550 for their wedding flowers by cheque but later handed over the same amount in cash to speed things along.

Instead of tearing up the cheque, Watson had cashed it.

The court heard previously how she repeatedly ignored the couple's pleas to get their money back following their wedding at Huntingtower Hotel in Perth on 25 August, 2002.

When they confronted her at the florist's shop in Aberuthven, Perthshire, Watson drove straight at the couple at high speed, hitting Mrs Rooney's right leg.

Kathryn and Greg Rooney: Complained about charges

Mrs Rooney said: "The sentence seems quite severe and that is fair enough for what she did to us.

"The fact that she has been banned from driving and has to re-sit her test is good. She got what she deserved really.

"I am glad it is finally over, more than four months after we went to court. It has been hanging over us for a long time.

"As long as she has been left feeling the pain of it that's good. Maybe it will prevent her doing the same thing to someone else in future."

Sheriff Anthony Deutsch said: "This is a case where I had to think carefully about imposing a custodial sentence," adding that community service was a direct alternative to jail.