AN AYRSHIRE police officer is facing claims that he shouted and swore at a woman after tailing her car in Ayr.

Christopher Hynds, 41, is accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause fear and alarm in an incident between Cedar Road and nearby Willow Park on March 7, 2021.

Mr Hynds, whose address was listed in court papers as care of Police Scotland’s professional standards department in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, allegedly manoeuvred a vehicle into a driveway without indicating.

Court papers claim this forced the woman to take evasive action while driving to avoid a collision.

The prosecution’s complaint alleges that Mr Hynds then drove out of the driveway and followed the woman’s vehicle, flashing his lights and indicators repeatedly.

It’s also alleged that after stopping at Willow Park Mr Hynds behaved aggressively towards the woman by shouting and swearing at her.

Defence solicitor Kirstin Clark, from law firm Levy McRae, told Sheriff Desmond Leslie her client was “pleading not guilty at this point”, and said he would not be fit for trial for four weeks.

The accused’s occupation was confirmed when Sheriff Leslie asked what Mr Hynds did for a living upon reading the address listed on the Crown’s complaint.

A motion from the defence to defer the date of the trial was refused.

Sheriff Leslie added: “This has been going on for some time. I will continue to the trial diet.”

Police Scotland can be contacted on 101 – in an emergency always dial 999.