Court / Heavy fine for dangerous driving “in the extreme”

AN “IMPULSIVE decision” to drive his car at a police officer who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit has cost a man from Lerwick his licence and a heavy fine.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Rimantas Grigalis that he was guilty of a charge of dangerous driving “in the extreme”.

The 41-year-old, with an address in Burgh Road, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court how on a Sunday afternoon – 7 August – Grigalis came to the attention of two plain clothed police officers while driving at North Road.

When they followed him, he was repeatedly veering back and forth on the road before suddenly turning.

When one of the police officers got out of their car and instructed Grigalis to stay stationary, he reversed on the pavement, causing his wheels to spin, and then drove at the policeman who had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.

He then drove off down North Road at speed. Grigalis made contact with police later and readily accepted responsibility.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client had no explanation why he reacted the way he did.

He said Grigalis realised what he had done and accepted that his actions had been “stupid”. He was an “impulsive decision,” he added

Allan said Grigalis has been living in Shetland since 2004 and had been working since day one in the same job as a fish worker.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank described the incident as an “inexplicable case of dangerous driving in the extreme”.

He fined Grigalis £1,500 and disqualified him for a year. He will also have to pass the extended test of competence before he can be allowed back on the roads.