Golspie man banned from road for driving immediately after he was disqualified
A GOLSPIE man “blatantly” ignored a court order by getting into his car and driving off – immediately after a court appearance at which he was banned from driving,
Iain Sayers, Wilson Buildings, Main Street, had been given an interim driving disqualification at Tain Sheriff Court on December 21 in relation to motoring offences.
But the 50-year-old former retailer walked out of court and, completely disregarding the ban, got behind the wheel of his vehicle and took to the road.
Sayers appeared at Tain Sheriff Court last month to admit driving while disqualified on the town’s High Street on December 21. He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of using a car with no insurance.
And he admitted committing both offences while on bail in relation to the previous road traffic contraventions.
Sentence was deferred until this week for Criminal Justice social work reports and Sayers was in the dock again today..
His defence agent James McNair said: “Mr Sayers attended court (on December 21) not expecting a disqualification to be imposed. He had brought his car with him and had made no arrangements for anyone else to drive the vehicle.
“He foolishly took the decision to drive the vehicle a short distance to a local store where he met his partner and thereafter she took over the driving. He has not driven since.”
The lawyer said life had started to “unravel” for Mr Sayers two years ago after his long-term partner left him.
Sayers subsequently declared himself bankrupt and gave up a retail business which he and his former partner had worked to build up.
Mr McNair said: “He suffered from alcohol and drug dependency but has now addressed these issues and is again attempting to open further retail premises. These are due to open next month and he will operate that business along with his (new) partner.”
The lawyer added: “My client fully accepts that a longer period of disqualification than that imposed in December is inevitable. He fully accepts his culpability and that he took a potentially dangerous and reckless decision on that date.
But Mr McNair pointed out: “With the exception of road traffic matters, Mr Sayers has not come to the attention of the court.”
Sheriff Christ Dickson disqualified Sayers from driving for 18 months and placed him on a community payback order with the requirement that he carry out 108 hours of unpaid work within six months.
