News / Motorcyclist ‘very fortunate’ to keep licence
A MOTORCYCLIST who drove at “grossly excessive” speed was told he was “very fortunate” not to be disqualified at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Vincent Tonner, 27, of North Nesting, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving his motorbike carelessly on the A970 road between the South Nesting junction and Lerwick on 31 July 2013.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the offence took place at 8.30pm on a fine summer’s evening. Tonner had “gone out and opened up the throttle” without realising he had pulled out of a junction in front of an unmarked police van.
Mackenzie said police were driving a transit-style van at a speed exceeding 100mph and Tonner was “still disappearing into the distance”.
Defence agent Liam McAllister said Tonner had never been in trouble with the court before, and had held a full and clear driving licence for a decade.
McAllister said that, while his conduct on the evening in question might suggest otherwise, Tonner supported his wife and young child and took that duty very seriously.
He implored Sheriff Philip Mann not to impose a disqualification, which would result in Tonner losing his job as a foreman with a well established local firm.
His employer described him as an “incredible asset to his firm” who possessed a strong work ethic, McAllister said.
Sheriff Mann said that, although the charge Tonner admitted to was a “watered down” one, his driving could colloquially be described as “dangerous”.
While he would be “amply justified” to impose a driving ban, Sheriff Mann instead opted to impose nine penalty points and a fine of £600.
“You can count yourself to be very fortunate, Mr Tonner,” the sheriff said. “I do hope you have learnt your lesson.”
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