Dornoch pair on driving charges
Case heard at Dornoch Sheriff Court
GIVING a friend a lift home ended up in a court appearance on various driving charges for a Dornoch pair.
Linda Fleming, 3 Elizabeth Crescent, and Grant Sutherland, set out with their friend after spending the evening of Sunday, 11th March at Mr Sutherland’s house, No 2 Chalet, Pitgrudy Farm.
But Fleming (48), who was initially driving, lost control of the car at the end of the Pitgrudy Farm track while trying to avoid a sheep on the road.
“The accused’s car struck a telegraph pole and ended up in the ditch,” procurator fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Dornoch Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fleming allowed Sutherland (44) to take over the wheel of the car as it was being hauled out of the ditch by a nearby farmer, who had turned out on his tractor to help.
But unfortunately Sutherland was a disqualified driver with no insurance and he was reported to police who spoke to him the following day.
The fiscal said: “One of the people who had gone to their assistance thought it appropriate to tell police.
“Initially Mr Sutherland’s position was that he was only behind the wheel of the car while it was being pulled out of the ditch, but it became apparent that he drove afterwards.”
Defence agent Craig Wood said: “What happened was that Mr Sutherland drove Ms Fleming and their friend back to his house – a distance of 500 yards. He did this because Ms Fleming was shaken by the accident.
“His three year period of disqualification has now expired. He was around two and a half years through it when this incident occurred.”
Sutherland was fined a total of £700 and had his licence endorsed by ten penalty points after admitting two charges at Tuesday’s court – driving while disqualified and using a car with no insurance.
Co-accused Fleming had previously admitted three charges – failing to report an accident; allowing Sutherland to drive a car while he was disqualified; and allowing Sutherland to use a car with no insurance.
Sheriff David Sutherland admonished her on the first two charges but imposed a £200 fine and six penalty points on the insurance charge
The penalties do seem rather out of proportion for the crime/s. I agree that he should not have driven on the public highway. went wrong and