An Irvine businessman facing jail over a turf war with a rival wheelie bin cleaning firm missed a court date because his wife was diagnosed with cancer, it has emerged.

Adam Ferguson, Cairnsgarroch Way, is already facing up to a year behind bars for trying to mow down a rival cleaning company boss.

Ferguson, 62, landed in more hot water earlier this month when a warrant was out for his arrest because he failed to turn up at court to be sentenced.

And it has now emerged that he missed the court date because his wife was diagnosed with the lifethreatening illness.

When the case against Ferguson was called in court on Tuesday, defence solicitor Alastair Gray explained: “Two days prior to the deferred sentence he received the news his wife had been diagnosed cancer.

“Really that took over all the thoughts he was having at the time and as a result of that he forgot to attend court.

“Mr Ferguson would be willing to undertake unpaid work [as part of a Community Payback Order] but there is some ambiguity about that.

“He would be willing to undertake such an order but your Lordship may need further information about whether such an order is likely to succeed.”

As he called for an updated social work background report to see whether Ferguson would be fit for unpaid work and adjourned the case until next month, Sheriff James Spy warned Ferguson he could still be jailed for the offence.

He said: “I’ll continue this for a period of four weeks to get a supplementary report. “You must cooperate with the social work department.

“I’ll consider all the options in four weeks’ time.”

Ferguson is facing up to a year behind bars for trying to mow down Ian McCreight - the boss of a rival firm who use the same name and operate in the same patch.

His trial heard matters came to a head in Islay Crescent, Paisley, in June last year while the two firms – who are both called Wheelie Clean Services – were operating in the street.

Ferguson tried to mow his rival down with the heavy van, which carries large amounts of water to allow them to clean the bins.

Ferguson admitted they were rivals but denied he’d tried to knock McCreight down, adding: “Of course it annoys me to see him using the same name as us and working in the same area”

But Sheriff Spy dismissed his version of events and found him guilty.