£450 fine for 'cat and mouse' driver on A9

PLAYING cat and mouse with a bus driver on the A9 nearly cost a teenager his driving licence.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard today that John Clark repeatedly changed lanes on the stretch of dual carriageway between Kessock Bridge and the Tore roundabout to obstruct bus driver Angela Clark, who was trying to overtake.

Sheriff Gill Sukhwinder heard how passengers in the back of Clark’s car were laughing as the driver of the bus flashed lights and blew her horn as she tried to overtake.

Passengers on the bus observed what was happening and depute fiscal Stewart Maciver said they took the number of Clark’s car.

Mr Maciver said the bus was being driven north from Inverness about 4.30pm on May 28 last year when the driver became aware of the vehicle in front of her.

She pulled out to overtake and at the same time Clark indicated and moved to the outside lane in front of the bus.

The fiscal said this manoeuvre happened on a number of occasions on the seven mile journey to the roundabout.

“It appears the bus driver tooted her horn and flashed her lights and rear seat passengers in the car turned round and were laughing at her.

“At the Tore roundabout the accused made off. He was later traced to his home.”

Clark (19) of Kinkell, near Conon Bridge, admitted driving carelessly on May 28 last year by repeatedly changing lanes to obstruct the bus.

Clark, whose father the court heard was a director of a local garage where he worked, needed his licence for his job his solicitor Clare Russell said.

She told the Sheriff that Clark was a general handyman driving customers around and getting parts for the company and had held a licence for two years. The imposition of six penalty points on his licence would mean it would be revoked as he was a new driver at the time of the offence.

Ms Russell added: “His father is a director of the company and he cannot show favouritism and it would be up to the workshop manager to deal with him.”

She said he needed his licence for his job.

Ms Russell said the bus driver’s frustration was understandable and Clark’s parents, who were in court, in no way condoned his behaviour.

She also lodged references which showed his behaviour was out of character and he accepted he had been stupid.

Sheriff Sukhwinder told Clark his driving was inappropriate but she recognised he was a year younger at the time and immature.

“You treated this as a cat a mouse game and your friends were laughing at the bus driver.”

However she said she took into account he was a first offender, had no other cases pending and the references before the court.

She fined him £450 and endorsed his licence with five penalty points.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.