Grieving Scots dad in road rage knife attack on rival driver after M8 bust-up

A grieving dad launched a road rage knife attack on another motorist after a bust-up on Scotland's busiest motorway.

John Burke lost the plot on the M8, near Glasgow, pulling alongside driver Kawan Ahmadi while beeping his horn and flashing his lights.

Ahmadi tried to ignore him but Burke tailed him to Renfrew.

The 66-year-old stopped behind Ahmadi and approached his car, then punched the rival driver in the face.

He then fetched a kitchen knife from his car - and chased Ahmadi round his vehicle with it.

The details emerged today, Friday, April 24, 2026, when Burke appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court over the incident.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of assault to injury and possession of a knife and sentencing had been adjourned for background reports to be prepared. 

Procurator Fiscal Depute Tracy Wright told the court the incident took place on July 17 last year.

The prosecutor explained: "The accused John Burke was driving next to him and began beeping his horn and flashing his lights.

"The witness ignored the accused."

And she told how Burke then went on the attack after Ahmadi had stopped in Porterfield Road, Renfrew, after heading west along the M8 from Glasgow.

She explained: "He pulled up again behind him, exited his vehicle and approached the driver's side and struck him to the face.

"The witness Ahmadi exited his vehicle and a verbal altercation ensued between the pair.

"The accused punched the witness to the face then returned to his vehicle and recovered a kitchen knife from within, before walking back to the witness' vehicle, causing him to become fearful.

"He moved round the car to get away from the accused. The accused chased him round his vehicle before walking up to open the driver's side.

"The police were flagged down and the witness shouted, 'he has a knife, he punched me'.

"The accused performed a 180 degree turn and drove off."

Burke was traced by officers later and told them: "I know what it's about - I was fighting with a guy in Renfrew."

They searched his car and found a brown handled kitchen knife.

Defence solicitor Joe Scott-Hobbs said: "This was a particularly difficult time for him.

"His son had passed away nine days earlier, and the funeral took place two days before this incident.

"When speaking to the social worker [who compiled the background report ahead of sentencing] he came across as quite embarrassed by his behaviour.

"He helps his daughter-in-law look after his son's two young boys, mostly at weekends."

Sheriff Thomas Millar said: "If you can help look after young boys you can do some unpaid work, maybe in a charity shop or something.

"I'm going to impose unpaid work for you to pay back into the community."

He placed Burke, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, on a Community Payback Order, giving him six months to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

The sentence was reduced from 150 hours as he admitted his guilt.