Court / Court round-up 23 February

A YOUNG driver from Lerwick has lost his licence after admitting a charge of dangerous driving.

Damien Anderson, of Gremmasgaet, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday to plead guilty to driving at an excessive speed at the Scord in Scalloway on 20 August last year.

The charge stated that the 18-year-old was unable to navigate a corner, whereby he lost control of his car and crossed into the opposing carriageway in the face of an oncoming vehicle, which had to brake excessively to avoid collision.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the speed at which Anderson was driving at the Scord was perhaps a case of bravado in front of a passenger.

He said it was fortunate that the driver in the other direction was experienced enough to spot Anderson’s speed and slow down himself.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client held a driving licence for seven or eight months prior to the offence.

He acknowledged it was “immature behaviour” and said Anderson now accepts that his driving was inappropriate.

“It’s a tough lesson for him to learn,” Allan said.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said dangerous driving is “always a serious offence” and banned Anderson from the road for 12 months as well as giving out a fine of £630.

A MAN from Dundee who threw a bottle which struck another pub-goer on the head has been fined £540.

David Malloch, 37, of Hebrides Drive, assaulted another man at the Balta Light pub, in Unst, on 18 June when he was in Shetland for work.

The offence was committed while he was on bail, and no injury was sustained by the complainer.

When the case called at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday neither side could offer any explanation as to the reason for the bottle being thrown.

But defence agent Tommy Allan said there was a lot going on in his client’s personal life at the time, and added there was no ill-feeling left between the complainer and the accused.

BUMPING into another vehicle when reversing out of a car park space has cost a driver £180 and three penalty points.

Susan Clarke, of Sandwick, admitted a charge of careless driving at the Clickimin Leisure Centre overflow carpark on 5 May last year when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 54-year-old had “simply made a poor job of reversing out of a parking space”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the offence was “at the very lowest end of the scale” when it came to careless driving.