MID-AIR DRAMA: FORK LIFT TERROR OF A DEBT COLLECTOR; Mondeo man is picked up and dumped 50 yards away as he tries to impound hot tub.

Byline: By BILLY PATERSON

SHERIFF'S Officer James McFarlane ended up in a terrifying mid-air drama when he arrived at Bernard Rooney's home to impound a pounds 6000 hot tub.

He was chased back into his car by the irate businessman, who then drove a forklift truck at his vehicle.

Rooney lifted the Ford Mondeo and the terrified debt collector into the air, drove off and dumped the car 50 yards away.

One friend, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was one of the most incredible things you will ever see. For it to be happening with one of your mates involved was staggering.

'The debt collector had only got in the car to protect himself. It obviously didn't bother Bernard but from what we know there wasn't too much harm done in the end.'

Rooney, 46, who sells saunas and spa baths from his home leisure company in Ayr, had company rates arrears of pounds 4000.

McFarlane had been sent to Rooney's house in Annbank, near Ayr, to recover goods to be auctioned off to pay Rooney's debts.

But Rooney said the debts belonged to his business and not to him personally. He also claimed he wanted to use the spa bath to raise money for charity.

After the attack, Rooney was charged with deforcement of messengers which used to carry the death penalty.

But he admitted a lesser charge of driving a fork-lift truck culpably and recklessly and with a criminal disregard for the consequences and to the danger of McFarlane.

As a result, he is more likely to face a community service order.

Last night, Rooney said: 'The rates arrears were to do with my business in Ayr and were completely separate from anything to do with our home.

'I tried to explain that to the officers but they wouldn't listen. They didn't even identify themselves.'

He also said they had been stressed on the day of the incident, having received bad news about their seven year-old son Declan, who suffers from Downs Syndrome and a bone disease.

Rooney's wife Gail, said: 'Bernard had donated the hot tub to a Cash For Kids charity auction at Seamill Hydro in Ayrshire. It was due to be picked up by the person who put in the highest bid pounds 4500 that day.

'The rates arrears were all in relation to the business that's why he was so angry.

'Declan has a condition called Perthes disease, which means that the hip starts to break down.

'It's treatable, but the treatment involves him having both legs in plaster with a bar in the middle.

'He's been like that for nine months and has another nine months to go in the treatment programme which for a lively seven-year-old is hard going.

'He's in a mainstream school and we're trying to keep him there so he can mix with the other kids.

'But they have a yearly review of his progress and that had just taken place.

'There were some issues that we need to look at but nothing that can't be solved. However, obviously that built up some pressure on Bernard.'

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Stress: Rooney, Gail and Declan, who has Downs syndrome