Court / Court round-up 26 September
A TAXI driver who prioritised a booking over reporting an accident has been left on the brink of a ban.
Seventy five year old Thomas Main reversed into the other car at the NorthLink ferry terminal in Lerwick during a “busy morning” on 6 September 2023.
But instead of telling the other driver about the damage Main drove off, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Thursday.
Main, from Burgh Road, Lerwick, admitted driving without due care or attention and failing to provide his details following an accident.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie called it “an error of judgment”, saying he had made a mistake about what his “priorities were at the time”.
He added he did not think there was any attempt to evade justice.
The fiscal said Main’s accident was caught on CCTV cameras and reported to his taxi company – who promptly paid for the damage.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said if Main had made more of an effort to find the other driver, he “probably wouldn’t even be in court today”.
He said Main already had six penalty points on his licence and was in a “very precarious position”, adding: “He really cannot put a foot wrong in the car, and that will make him extra careful”.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Main £380 and imposed a further five penalty points on his licence, taking him up to 11.
A FORTY four year old man will stand trial for allegedly embezzling almost £2,000 from the Walls swimming pool committee.
Regan Peggs, from Stove, Walls, denied taking £1,996.01 from the committee while acting as treasurer between 1 December 2022 and 28 March 2024 when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
The trial will take place on 19 December.
A DRIVER who collided with a lorry after being distracted by items on his passenger seat was fined at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Nathan Charlton admitted driving without due care or attention at Girlsta on 10 May, which led to him crashing into the back of the car in front of him.
Charlton, from Wethersta, Brae, was then pushed into the path of an oncoming lorry, which struck him despite the driver’s efforts to stop.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Charlton “simply failed to notice” the car in front of him had stopped and was indicating as he drove along the A970 main road at around 4.15pm.
After colliding with the car, he was pushed on to the other side of the road into the path of a lorry – whose driver had to go on to the verge to “minimise the extent of the damage”.
Charlton’s car suffered some damage, while he was left with several cuts and bruises.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Charlton had left “some items” on the passenger’s seat, and he had looked over at them after they moved.
He called it a “momentary lapse in concentration”.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Charlton £500 and endorsed his licence with three penalty points.
A THIRTY two year old man who had “forgotten” he was carrying cocaine has been fined at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
Sydney James Johnson, from Sullom, admitted possessing 0.43g of the class A drug on 16 June at South Road in Lerwick.
Police pulled over a car in which Johnson was a passenger, and after a search they found the drug – which had an estimated value of £50.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had “forgotten it was there”.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Johnson £400, to be paid once a previous fine has been dealt with.
A TEENAGER has appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court charged with two counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The seventeen year old, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared in private on Wednesday.
His address was given only as Shetland, and he made no plea to either charge.
He was committed for further examination and released on bail.
No date has been given for his next appearance.
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